What’s new for the clinician – summaries of recently published papers (February 2025)

While it may not be widely understood, there is a clear connection between a person’s dental health and their mental health. Numerous studies have identified associations between mental health and oral health; however, the interaction often does not get much attention, even among health care professionals. Shappell and Cartier (2023)1 point out the various ways in which oral health and mental health are interconnected, each having an impact on the other. Dental health problems can impact a person’s quality of life and exacerbate mental health problems. For example:• When a person has poor oral health, it can impact their eating, speech and self-esteem and lead to reduced social interactions, further harming mental wellbeing.• Many people, including people with mental health conditions, have anxiety associated with dental care and procedures and avoid needed care, but chronic oral pain can contribute to poor mental health and make treating mental health conditions more difficult.• Symptoms of mental illnesses can contribute to poor nutrition which, in turn, contributes to poor dental health.• People with mental illness, particularly those experiencing symptoms of serious mental illness, may have difficulty maintaining an effective daily dental care routine and accessing needed dental treatment.