Archaeologists have long used teeth to reveal information related to lifestyle, cause of death, and ancient civilizations. However, a recent study published by the Daily Mail suggests that our teeth can also give us information about the future. Researchers have found that teeth can predict susceptibility to mental health disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, anxiety, and depression in children.
Lost baby teeth of six-year-olds were examined and found that children with thin enamel could be at risk of developing poor attention problems. Lead author Dr. Erin Dunn, a psychiatrist at Massachusetts General Hospital, said that while a discovery like this might be commonplace for archaeologists, it is extraordinary in psychiatry, opening the door to a whole new perspective for detection of mental health disorders. that are increasing.
Differences in the dimension and quality of teeth are better predictors of mental health
Dr. Dunn said it was something they had never seen or thought of before. His team comprised anthropologists, public health professionals and archaeologists and presented their work at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAA) in Washington.
Researchers asked 37 California parents to donate the teeth of their 6-year-old children when they fell out. Each tooth was examined using high resolution images. This analysis was later extrapolated to study the behavior of children. Compared to other biomarkers a psychiatrist would normally look for, tooth quality and differences in dimensions were found to be better predictors of mental health.
Scientists from all fields need to work together
Dr. Dunn shared that it was important for scientists from all fields to work together as it would add more dimensions to an investigation. He added that scientists generally had a tendency to isolate themselves and work with people from the same field. For example, psychiatrists worked only with psychiatrists and psychologists worked only with psychologists. People generally refrained from moving between disciplines or exploring other related facets of an investigation.
Dr. Dunn stated that this study is proof of the fact that there is a need for more interdisciplinary science and how more efforts can give one the opportunity to see things from different angles that may be completely unexpected.
Warning signs of mental illness in adolescents and young adults
Sometimes it can be really hard to tell if a child’s or teen’s behavior is a normal part of growing up or something more. If symptoms last for weeks or months, it warrants a visit to a health professional. Some of the warning signs of a mental illness are:
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Feeling extremely anxious and worried all the time.
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Throw tantrums and become irritable
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Having frequent headaches, stomachaches, and other unexplained pains
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Trouble sleeping with frequent nightmares
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Low or no energy
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avoid friends
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Smoking, drinking, or using drugs
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Engaging in self-harm and other risky behaviors
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Losing interest in things you used to enjoy
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Having trouble doing well in school or sports
The road to recovery
Good mental health is important for the general well-being of children and adolescents, as these are their growing years and shape the future personality of the child. For many adults experiencing mental health problems, the symptoms were present when they were growing up but went undiagnosed or ignored. Therefore, it is important that a mental health disorder be detected early and receive a timely diagnosis.
