Mental health is more widely understood than dental health, study shows

According to research from Bupa, two in three (65 per cent) of 18- 34-year-olds admitted they knew more about their mental health than their dental health, with 19 per cent acknowledging they were unaware of any connection between oral health and mental wellbeing. Only 13 per cent of Brits felt they were better informed about their dental health than their mental health.

The results are part of a wider look into how much Brits know about how dental health is connected to their overall physical and mental wellbeing. According to Bupa, 85 per cent of respondents do not think mental health worries were related to the health of their teeth, tongue or gums. Furthermore, only 12 per cent knew their oral health could be connected to panic attacks. Just seven per cent understood the links to bipolar disorder.