Hygiene and Mental IllnessPoor hygiene can be a sign of self-neglect, which is the inability or unwillingness to attend to one's personal needs. Poor hygiene often accompanies certain mental or emotional disorders, including severe depression and psychotic disorders.
Poor personal hygiene, such as failing to regularly wash, use deodorant, change clothes, and brush teeth, can be one of the first signs a person has a mental illness. This deterioration can stem from a general apathy or lack of motivation and disorganization—symptoms of the illness. |
Yes, Mental Illness Can Impact Your Hygiene. Here’s What You Can Do About It
www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/mental-illness-can-impact-hygiene#Why-is-it-so-hard-to-brush-my-teeth-or-shower? |
Poor oral hygiene in the mentally ill: Be aware of the problem, and intervene
www.mdedge.com/psychiatry/article/83308/somatic-disorders/poor-oral-hygiene-mentally-ill-be-aware-problem-and
Poor oral health is common among mentally ill people and is related to inadequate nutrition, poor self-care, substance abuse, and medication side effects. Poor oral hygiene is a significant problem because it results in dental pathology that has an adverse influence on the whole body.
Drug abuse facilitates dental diseases, as evidenced by the high rate of caries among methamphetamine users. The drug induces xerostomia, encouraging users to drink sweetened beverages; this, combined with limited oral care, results in profound dental decay (“meth mouth”). Oral cocaine users often exhibit dental erosions or abrasions, gingival lacerations or necrosis, and mucosal lesions. Smoking Cannabis is associated with an increased rate of gingivitis, alveolar bone loss, leukoplakia, and oral papilloma or other cancers.5 Heroin users are at increased risk of tooth decay, periodontal disease, and oral infection.
Alcohol consumption increases the risk of oral cancer. Long-term alcohol use suppresses bone marrow function, causing leukopenia and resulting in immunosuppression and an increased incidence of dental infections.6 Excessive alcohol consumption also can cause thrombocytopenia and bleeding, which can complicate dental procedures.
Smoking cigarettes increases the incidence of periodontal disease, especially necrotizing gingivitis and candidiasis.7 Ninety percent of patients with schizophrenia smoke—compared with up to 70% of patients with other psychiatric disorders, and 19% of the general population. Physiologic aspects of schizophrenia reinforce the smoking habit.7
Psychiatric disorders are strongly associated with diabetes, obesity, hypertension, stroke, heart disease, and arthritis, all of which contribute to oral pathology. Older age, greater dysfunction, longer duration of illness, and smoking are predictors of adverse dental outcomes.
Anxiety, depression, stress—all of these these disorders increase the circulating level of cortisol, thus raising the risk that periodontal disease will progress. Periodontitis increases the risk of stroke and heart attack by accelerating atherosclerotic plaque formation. Depression, anxiety, and substance abuse can lead to temporomandibular disorders that cause pain and restrict jaw movement.11 Stressed patients may experience muscle tension and bruxism, which can lead to temporomandibular joint discomfort. Atypical odontalgia, characterized by chronic, burning pain in teeth and gums, is associated with depression and anxiety. Misdiagnosis can result in extractions or procedures without an appropriate indication and failure to alleviate the pain.
Eating disorders. Patients who induce vomiting may exhibit enamel erosions (especially on the anterior maxillary teeth), increased tooth hypersensitivity, decay, and wear on dental restorative work.
Medication side effects. Xerostomia can increase the risk for caries, periodontal disease, and oral infections such as candidiasis, glossitis, stomatitis, and parotitis. Extrapyramidal side effects (tardive dyskinesia, dystonia) may cause tooth damage and make managing dentures difficult.
Additional Dentistry information can be found at: www.newmouth.com/
www.mdedge.com/psychiatry/article/83308/somatic-disorders/poor-oral-hygiene-mentally-ill-be-aware-problem-and
Poor oral health is common among mentally ill people and is related to inadequate nutrition, poor self-care, substance abuse, and medication side effects. Poor oral hygiene is a significant problem because it results in dental pathology that has an adverse influence on the whole body.
Drug abuse facilitates dental diseases, as evidenced by the high rate of caries among methamphetamine users. The drug induces xerostomia, encouraging users to drink sweetened beverages; this, combined with limited oral care, results in profound dental decay (“meth mouth”). Oral cocaine users often exhibit dental erosions or abrasions, gingival lacerations or necrosis, and mucosal lesions. Smoking Cannabis is associated with an increased rate of gingivitis, alveolar bone loss, leukoplakia, and oral papilloma or other cancers.5 Heroin users are at increased risk of tooth decay, periodontal disease, and oral infection.
Alcohol consumption increases the risk of oral cancer. Long-term alcohol use suppresses bone marrow function, causing leukopenia and resulting in immunosuppression and an increased incidence of dental infections.6 Excessive alcohol consumption also can cause thrombocytopenia and bleeding, which can complicate dental procedures.
Smoking cigarettes increases the incidence of periodontal disease, especially necrotizing gingivitis and candidiasis.7 Ninety percent of patients with schizophrenia smoke—compared with up to 70% of patients with other psychiatric disorders, and 19% of the general population. Physiologic aspects of schizophrenia reinforce the smoking habit.7
Psychiatric disorders are strongly associated with diabetes, obesity, hypertension, stroke, heart disease, and arthritis, all of which contribute to oral pathology. Older age, greater dysfunction, longer duration of illness, and smoking are predictors of adverse dental outcomes.
Anxiety, depression, stress—all of these these disorders increase the circulating level of cortisol, thus raising the risk that periodontal disease will progress. Periodontitis increases the risk of stroke and heart attack by accelerating atherosclerotic plaque formation. Depression, anxiety, and substance abuse can lead to temporomandibular disorders that cause pain and restrict jaw movement.11 Stressed patients may experience muscle tension and bruxism, which can lead to temporomandibular joint discomfort. Atypical odontalgia, characterized by chronic, burning pain in teeth and gums, is associated with depression and anxiety. Misdiagnosis can result in extractions or procedures without an appropriate indication and failure to alleviate the pain.
Eating disorders. Patients who induce vomiting may exhibit enamel erosions (especially on the anterior maxillary teeth), increased tooth hypersensitivity, decay, and wear on dental restorative work.
Medication side effects. Xerostomia can increase the risk for caries, periodontal disease, and oral infections such as candidiasis, glossitis, stomatitis, and parotitis. Extrapyramidal side effects (tardive dyskinesia, dystonia) may cause tooth damage and make managing dentures difficult.
Additional Dentistry information can be found at: www.newmouth.com/
