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The importance of mental, physical and financial health to overall employee wellbeing has been highlighted in numerous studies and surveys in recent years. A new study from Cigna Healthcare adds dental health to that list.
Oral health problems such as tooth decay, dental pain, gum disease and tooth loss have long been connected to mental health as a collateral effect often attributed to diminished overall self-care or a lack of interest in health or appearance. Patients with severe mental illness are 2.7 times more likely to lose all of their teeth than the general population, the report found.
Research increasingly shows a more direct link between oral and mental health. Chronic inflammation associated with periodontitis, for example, can pass through the gums and supporting bone and enter the bloodstream, leading to elevated stress hormones that impact mental health.
Amid a growing consensus around the connection between oral health and overall wellbeing, dentists and dental carriers are beginning to include dental care as part of whole-person health strategies while working to lower barriers to access for optimal oral care. Employers should consider the positive impacts of quality dental care on overall wellbeing, healthcare costs and employee productivity, the report said.
“Dental benefits
