Periodontal Health and Psychiatric Disorders

Abstract

Purpose of Review People with mental illness are vulnerable to periodontal diseases. Explanations include the direct effects of the psychiatric illness, side effects of psychotropic medication, lifestyle (e.g., alcohol, tobacco, and other substance use), shared risk factors, and difficulties with activities of daily living and access to dental care. Recent Findings Latest findings confirm the bi-directional relationship between periodontal disease and both psychiatric illness and substance use disorders (SUDs). On one hand, individuals with psychiatric illness and SUDs are at increased risk of developing periodontal disease, the strongest association being for SUDs and severe mental illnesses. On the other hand, periodontal disease may contribute to the development or exacerbation of psychiatric illness and SUDs through the systemic effects of chronic inflammation. Summary There are complex and bi-directional interactions between dental pathology and psychiatric illnesses/ SUDs that include a wide range of interconnected biological, behavioral, and psychosocial factors.

Alcohol and Periodontal Disease: A Narrative Review

“…It has been reported that worldwide, 5-50% of the population suffering from periodontitis eventually lose their teeth [3][4][5]. Some of the behavioral factors that can cause periodontal diseases include smoking [6][7][8], chronic alcohol consumption [9,10], nutritional deficiency [11,12], psychological issues [13,14], and systemic diseases [15][16][17].…”