Depression Symptoms Linked to Multiple Oral Health Outcomes in US Adults

Abstract

Background: Individuals with mental illness have poor oral health compared to those without mental health conditions. However, the literature is still lacking regarding the specifics of this relationship. Objective: This study aims at examining the relationship between depression and oral health problems such as oral conditions, access to dental care, and oral hygiene measures. Methods: A cross-sectional study using a secondary data analysis of 9,693 participants from the 2017 to March 2020 prepandemic National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). The independent variable was severity of depressive symptoms as measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire–9 (PHQ-9). Proportional odds and binary logistic regression were used to calculate crude and adjusted odds ratios (AORs) between depression and 8 oral health outcomes and oral hygiene–related behaviors. Results: After adjusting for sociodemographics, health conditions, and behaviors, individuals with depression were significantly more likely to have dental aches in the past year (AOR = 1.70; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.13–2.56), difficulty getting dental care when needed (AOR = 1.93; 95% CI, 1.45–2.58), and difficulty at their jobs due to a problem in their mouth (AOR = 1.63; 95% CI, 1.07–2.49) compared to individuals without depression. Conclusion: Individuals with depressive symptoms often neglect oral hygiene and self-care practices and are less likely to seek medical care for oral health problems, making them at increased risk of poor oral health outcomes. These findings can be applied by dentists, psychologists, and therapists to increase awareness of links between depression and oral health and to encourage patients with depression to seek oral hygiene preventative care. Knowledge Transfer Statement: Health care professionals can be on the frontline in creating awareness in the general public about the links between depression and oral health and hygiene. Applying the findings from this study can help communicate about the relationship between depression and poor oral health and relieve some burden on the American health care sector, which often struggles to provide medical care to patients with depression and oral health issues.