Beverly Hills periodontist Mahnaz Rashti, DDS is citing recent research studies linking mental and dental health — news that arrives in time for National Mental Health Awareness Month in May. Study of 65,000 people with gum disease finds 37% of them have mental health issues.
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Beverly Hills periodontist Mahnaz Rashti, DDS is citing recent research studies linking mental and dental health — news that arrives in time for National Mental Health Awareness Month in May. Researchers looked at the medical files of 65,000 people with gum disease and discovered that 37% of them also have mental health issues including anxiety and depression. And it’s not exclusively due to people with serious mental health issues neglecting their teeth.
“One’s emotional state can have a significant impact on their oral health. Stress can cause dry mouth which leads to retention of excessive plaque harboring bacteria causing gum disease, rampant decay, and other dental problems.” Explains Rashti. “We’re also seeing excessive cognitive decline among those with gum disease as evidenced by a Boston study that links the condition with an increased buildup of beta-amyloid — the plaque-like substance found in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s.”
Rashti says that gum disease arising from emotional turmoil is of particular concern especially when one considers the numbers — an astounding 47% of adults 30+ have gum disease and that number jumps to 70% among those 65+. With some types of mental illness like depression, sufferers sometimes neglect their teeth. She points to a study in which 59% of respondents said they don’t floss every day, 31% of Americans fail to brush their teeth twice a day, and, more concerning, 2% don’t brush their teeth at all.
“We must take care of our bodies both physically and mentally,” advises Rashti. “As we are learning, there is a very real link between dental and mental health so we have to take care of ourselves in a holistic and balanced manner to achieve optimum overall health.”
Mahnaz Rashti, D.D.S. has maintained a practice in the center of Beverly Hills since 1994. She is a graduate of the College of Dentistry of New York University and completed her 5-year residency at the VA Hospital in Los Angeles, where she treated medically compromised patients suffering from cancer, smoking-related illnesses, and other life-threatening conditions. This led her to become a full-mouth reconstruction specialist where she conducted the most intense and life-changing work of her career involving patients who lost parts of their faces in combat. She also established her own nonprofit dedicated to helping veterans in need, children being bullied, survivors of domestic abuse, and others who don’t have the finances for dental work. Her practice is a family affair with her husband, Fred, who manages the business operations for the practice, and their son Benjamin and daughter Rebecca who help with social media and other day-to-day duties. It is located at 9735 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 307, Beverly Hills. Contact 310-623-3330 or visit DrRashti.com for more information.
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Contact Info:
Name: Frank Groff
Email: Send Email
Organization: Beverly Hills Smiles Dental Group
Address: 9735 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 307, Beverly Hills, CA 90212, United States
Phone: +1-310-623-3330
Website: https://www.drrashti.com/
Release ID: 89075166
