Section 5: Pain, Mental Illness, Substance Use, and Oral Health (Text Alternative)

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Mental health remains an important public health concern and closely linked to oral health. Severe mental illness can hinder access to oral healthcare, and some medications for mental illness can cause dry mouth which affects the oral microbiome and can contribute to dental problems.

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About 1 in 4 U.S. adults experienced mental illness in 2019.

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9.5 million adults in the U.S. reported having a substance use disorder co-occurrent with a mental illness.

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Patients experiencing or receiving treatment for mental illness are 80% more likely to have an acute dental need.

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20% of U.S. adults reported experiencing chronic pain, which is frequently associated with anxiety and depression and reduced quality of life.

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