Dentistas y psiquiatras alertan del impacto bidireccional entre salud mental y salud oral – consalud.es

The Consejo General de Dentistas presented a new public health campaign on May 8, 2026, titled Salud oral y salud mental (Oral Health and Mental Health). The initiative aims to raise awareness about the bidirectional relationship between psychological well-being and oral health, emphasizing that the two areas of health are more closely linked than previously recognized.

The campaign, which is sponsored by Philips, has already seen the enrollment of 810 clinics across Spain. The effort is designed to encourage a comprehensive approach to patient care, as medical experts warn that psychological disorders and oral diseases can mutually aggravate one another, ultimately reducing a patient’s overall quality of life.

The Bidirectional Link Between Mind and Mouth

During a colloquium held on May 8, 2026, health professionals detailed how various mental health factors can lead to the deterioration of oral hygiene and health. Experts identified several key drivers, including stress, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive behaviors. Eating disorders and the side effects of certain medications were highlighted as factors that can significantly impact a patient’s oral condition.

Conversely, the relationship also functions in the opposite direction. The specialists noted that specific oral pathologies can have a negative repercussion on mental health, potentially complicating existing psychological disorders and further diminishing the patient’s quality of life.

Mental Health Trends in Spain

The launch of the campaign comes amid a period of increasing mental health challenges within the Spanish population. According to data presented by the Consejo General de Dentistas, the prevalence of mental and behavioral disorders reached 34% in 2022.

This figure represents a 4.7% increase compared to data from 2019. The incidence of these disorders is notably higher among women than men, with a prevalence of 37.2% in women compared to 31% in men.

Between 2016 and 2022, several specific conditions showed a growing trend in Spain:

• Anxiety disorders, affecting 10.6% of the population.
• Sleep disorders, affecting 8.2% of the population.
• Depressive disorders, affecting 4.8% of the population.

Clinical Impact and Risks

The physical consequences of untreated or moderate-to-severe mental disorders are significant. Data indicates that patients suffering from moderate or severe mental disorders are 2.7 times more likely to lose all of their teeth than those without such conditions.

The colloquium featured insights from a multidisciplinary group of experts, including Dr. Óscar Castro Reino, president of the Consejo General de Dentistas; Dra. Cristina Calderón, president of the SEDAO; Dra. María Martínez of SEPA; and psychiatrist Dr. Diego Figueras. Together, they advocated for an integrated approach to treatment to mitigate these risks.

Further information regarding the initiative and the relationship between these two health sectors is available through the campaign’s dedicated website, saludoralymental.es.