Could Your Patients’ Oral Microbiome Reveal Their Mental Health?
Emerging research links a less diverse oral microbiome to higher rates of depression, suggesting that the mouth may offer diagnostic clues to mood disorders. This insight adds to the growing evidence connecting oral and systemic health, reinforcing the dental team’s role in whole-body wellness.
A recent study from New York University Rory Meyers College of Nursing highlights a compelling new link between oral and mental health: reduced microbial diversity in the mouth may be associated with symptoms of depression. Analyzing data from more than 15,000 United States adults via the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, researchers found that individuals with lower oral microbiome diversity were more likely to exhibit signs of depression.
The oral cavity is home to an intricate ecosystem of bacteria, and imbalances in this microbiome are increasingly being tied to systemic health concerns, including mood disorders. This study reinforces the idea that oral health may be both a reflection of and contributor to overall health, including emotional well-being.
Smoking, alcohol use, oral hygiene, and dental care were found to influence the connection between microbiome composition and mental health symptoms. While causality remains unclear, whether depression drives microbiome changes or vice versa, the implications for dental professionals are significant. Click here to read more.
