29/08/2025
Scientists have discovered a surprising link between depression and the variety of bacteria living in your mouth.
In one of the largest studies of its kind, involving more than 15,000 adults across the United States, researchers discovered that people with fewer types of oral bacteria were more likely to show symptoms of depression.
The link was especially noticeable in men and non-Hispanic White individuals, suggesting that the community of microbes in the mouth could be more important for mental health than we realized.
To explore this, scientists collected oral rinse samples and compared them with depression assessments. They found that a richer mix of bacteria generally matched with fewer signs of depression, even after accounting for factors such as age, smoking, and other health conditions. However, they also noticed that beyond a certain level, simply adding more bacterial diversity did not continue to improve mood, pointing toward a delicate balance.
How could this happen? Some mouth bacteria may spark inflammation or influence the immune system, which in turn affects the brain. Others might move down to the gut, disrupting its bacterial community and altering stress and mood regulation. It is also possible that depression itself changes habits like smoking, eating, or oral hygiene, which then reshapes the mouth’s bacteria.
RESEARCH PAPER đź“„
BMC Oral Health 25, 914 (2025).