Bullying can negatively impact your dental health

Young people who have had adverse childhood experiences are at increased risk of poor dental health. This is important to consider in dental care, according to a new study published in BMC Oral Health.

Most teenagers brush their teeth every day, but not all. Just over 6% of young people aged 13 to 17 skip brushing their teeth completely or partially. Research shows that adverse childhood experiences, including bullying, are associated with poor dental care habits.

“We can't say with certainty that one leads to the other, but we do know that there is a connection,” says PhD candidate and psychology specialist Lena Myran of the Dental Competence Center in Norway.

She explores how adverse childhood and adolescent experiences affect dental health.

Young-HUNT Survey participants were asked if they experienced anything bad as a child, such as bullying, violence, or parental alcohol abuse. They were also asked about their dental care habits. The responses were compared with data from the state dental service.

"We did a study that combined self-report responses with clinical data on dental health. This makes the study unique, and we were a little surprised by what we found," says Myuran.

Vulnerable group

6,351 young people took part in the study. The results showed that young people with adverse childhood experiences were more likely to report not brushing their teeth daily. Among other things, young people aged 16 to 17 who experience bullying were more likely to report poor dental care habits.

Poor dental health is also associated with feelings of shame.

"This doesn't mean that everyone who has been bullied doesn't brush their teeth every day. Most people brush their teeth every day.

The vast majority take good care of their teeth and have few caries. However, there is a group that is more vulnerable, and we need to be aware of this,” says Myuran.

Poor dental care habits can lead to tooth decay, which in turn increases the risk of cavities and can cause pain.

“Toothache can lead to avoidance of dental treatment, which in turn can lead to fear of visiting the dentist,” says Myuran.

"The correlations we find provide us with important knowledge about young people. Experiences of violence, abuse and bullying are harmful in many areas of life, and we are now seeing that this also applies to dental health.

The more different types of bad experiences you had as a child, the greater the impact on your dental care habits and tooth decay, says Myuran.

The need for an integrated approach

The researchers also found a correlation between dose and response.

"The more different types of bad experiences you had as a child, the greater the impact on your dental care habits and tooth decay. For example, many people experienced both parental abuse and problems with alcohol. These young people are more likely to poor dental health than those who experienced only one of the two," says Muran.

Muran emphasizes that a large proportion of young people who have had adverse childhood experiences have good dental health. However, there are some young people who do not take good enough care of their teeth, and this is a habit that is important to form at an early age.

"These findings suggest that dental clinics need to take a holistic approach. When a young person comes in with a lot of cavities, clinics may be more attentive to whether they have had difficulties in their life that may have contributed to a poor diet or poor grooming habits." behind the scenes.

Approach to reasons

Muran believes dentists should ask themselves what the cause of poor dental health is. Asking patients about adverse experiences is important when trying to identify vulnerable people and understand the underlying reasons why dental treatment is required.

"Instead of saying, 'You need to brush and floss better,' you could ask, 'Why are you finding it difficult to brush your teeth?' We can also ask ourselves the question 'What did the patient experience that caused his dental health to deteriorate?'"

Muran believes this is a more comprehensive approach.

"There are many reasons why a person may have cavities or problems caring for their teeth. No one intentionally neglects their teeth, but good advice and instructions about the importance of brushing your teeth are not always understood by everyone," says Myuran.

An integrated approach, on the contrary, can lead to earlier and more targeted preventive measures.

"This may include measures such as providing additional support for dental care education or referrals to other appropriate support services," says Myuran.

We need more time for patients

Muran, as a psychologist, understands the importance of focusing on communication and building trust when interacting with young patients. She would like to see dentists focus more on building positive and supportive relationships with young people.

"Creating an environment in which young people feel safe enough to be honest about their habits and share their experiences is a prerequisite for helping some vulnerable patients."

Muran says many dentists and hygienists already do an excellent job of establishing good relationships with patients.

"By continually prioritizing and developing trusting relationships, we can facilitate better tailored treatment plans. But these tasks take up dentists' valuable time."

It is therefore important that the leaders of the public dental service contribute to this.

“Good collaboration not only leads to improved dental health for young people, but also has a positive impact on their overall quality of life,” says Myuran.