Lifestyle
Dental Health. Is Mental Health.
Maybe you’ve heard, or maybe you suspect, that there is a link between Dental Health and Mental Health. Beyond the anecdotal evidence you may have heard or observed, there are some scientific studies that back this up.
For example, a study published in the Journal of Neuroscience in 2014 showed that the bacteria found in Cavities can also be found in the brain. Researchers from UCLA and the University of Washington tested this theory by taking samples of saliva from 128 people with Dental Caries. Using this saliva sample, they were able to test for Borrelia Burgdorferi (the bacterium that causes Lyme Disease) as well as other bacteria known to cause Dental Caries such as Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus acidophilus. They then compared these results to those who did not have Dental Caries. It was found that those with Dental Caries had a higher level of Borrelia Burgdorferi than those without it.
While it’s not yet known whether or not Borrelia Burgdorferi is actually causing tooth decay, or if it’s just a correlation, it does suggest some sort of relationship between dental health and mental health. The study also suggested that there may be an underlying reason for why some people might develop these types of diseases while others do not. This could include diet, stress levels, immune system function etc…