Poor Dental Health Linked to Depression

Using data from a comprehensive health survey of more than 10,000 people, ages 20 to 75 years living in the United States, researchers from the Deakin IMPACT Strategic Research Centre (Australia) found that poor dental health (as measured by the number of dental conditions a person had) increases the likelihood of being depressed.  Adrienne O'Neil and colleagues found that the more numerous the dental conditions, the greater the severity of depression.  Even adjusting for other factors that could potentially play a role based on role in the inflammatory process, the study authors write that: “A positive association exists between poor dental health and depression that is independent of [C-reactive protein] and [body mass index].”