A recent report by a non-profit in the US has discovered that adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are more likely to have poor oral health than those without ADHD.
According to the study by the CareQuest Institute for Oral Health in Boston, 35.5 per cent of participants with ADHD rated their oral health as either fair or poor, with only 24.9 per cent of neurotypical respondents giving the same rating. Those with ADHD were also more embarrassed about the state of their oral health compared to those without.
Additionally, 40.4 per cent of participants with ADHD reported not visiting a dentist in the past year (31.9 per cent for adults without ADHD) and 13 per cent with ADHD reported visiting an emergency clinic for dental care (2.3 per cent for neurotypical adults).
Eschewing regular dental care may be a result of discrimination in the oral health care setting; the same study also found that 11.7 per cent reported feeling discriminated against in a dental setting as well as an increased level of dental anxiety (seven per cent for adults without ADHD).
“While not all adults with ADHD have poor oral health, it is important for oral health professionals to be aware of the potential oral health challenges associated with ADHD and consult with their patients to help them achieve optimal oral health,” CareQuest Institue chief operating officer Leslie Carver said.
Those with ADHD are also at a higher risk for caries, periodontal disease, and bruxism. Not only that, but many common ADHD medications are known to cause dry mouth.
This article was sourced from Dentistry IQ.
