Icon representing a tooth.
Mental health remains an important public health concern and closely linked to oral health. Severe mental illness can hinder access to oral healthcare, and some medications for mental illness can cause dry mouth which affects the oral microbiome and can contribute to dental problems.
Icon representing adults.
About 1 in 4 U.S. adults experienced mental illness in 2019.
Icon representing various substances such as alcohol and medication.
9.5 million adults in the U.S. reported having a substance use disorder co-occurrent with a mental illness.
Icon representing mental illness.
Patients experiencing or receiving treatment for mental illness are 80% more likely to have an acute dental need.
Icon representing pain points of the body.
20% of U.S. adults reported experiencing chronic pain, which is frequently associated with anxiety and depression and reduced quality of life.
A circular graphic connecting the pain, mental illness, substance use, and oral health statistics.