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Compared to non-veterans, veterans are more likely to develop:
These conditions negatively impact a person's general health. They can also lead to poor oral health issues, such as cavities, gum disease, and other oral infections.
Long-term exposure to harmful chemicals (e.g., herbicides and asbestos) and explosions greatly impact a veteran’s general and oral health. Vets are more likely to experience chronic pain, joint pain, and organ-related issues.
Mental health disorders are also common among vets. This results in poor oral and general health outcomes over time. Sometimes health conditions do not manifest until long after retirement.
Oral care and hygiene needs are no different for vets compared to non-vets.
A good oral hygiene routine includes:
Many veterans suffer from general health complications after returning home from war. This may include cancer, AL amyloidosis, Hodgkin’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease. All of these conditions can negatively impact your oral health standing.
Exposure to herbicides (weedkillers) increases your chance of developing respiratory cancer. This can affect the lungs, trachea, larynx, or bronchus.
Many veterans from Afghanistan and previous wars had long-term exposure to:
As a result, many of them develop serious lung diseases or cancer after retirement.
Veterans are 25 to 75 percent more likely to develop lung cancer than non-veterans.
If you have lung cancer, you may also notice extreme changes in your mouth. This is because chemotherapy (cancer treatment) can also negatively impact the oral cavity.
In addition to hair loss, weight loss, vomiting, and nausea, chemotherapy may cause:
Mesothelioma is a type of cancer from long-term asbestos exposure. It can affect the lungs, heart, or abdomen.
Asbestos products were widely used to fireproof and insulate during:
Asbestos was also used to construct ships, planes, tanks, and barracks.
If asbestos fibers are inhaled long-term, lung cancer can develop after retirement.
Mesothelioma treatment includes chemotherapy, which can lead to:
Veterans who were exposed to herbicides are at risk of Hodgkin’s disease, a cancer of the lymphatic system.
Symptoms include:
Cancer treatment for the disease (chemotherapy and radiation) can lead to oral health complications. This includes mouth ulcers, cavities, gum disease, dry mouth, and soft-tissue inflammation.
Veterans who were exposed to herbicides are also at risk of AL amyloidosis. This condition occurs when amyloid proteins are deposited in organs or tissues. It can affect the heart, liver, lungs, joints, and kidneys.
AL can directly affect the tongue, resulting in enlargement and tenderness (macroglossia). It also weakens your immune system, which increases your risk of oral thrush and other infections.
Let your dentist or doctor know if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms:
Long-term exposure to herbicides increases the risk of Parkinson’s disease (PD). PD causes stiffness, shaking, and walking challenges.
PD symptoms can also affect the teeth, mouth, and jaw. The inability to control the body makes it difficult to receive dental treatment and brush your teeth. This can result in poor oral hygiene, gum disease, and cavities.
Veterans with PD are also more likely to grind their teeth, which increases the risk of cavities.
Some veterans may be at a higher risk of developing a poor oral health status if they have a serious mental illness.
This includes:
At least 20 percent of veterans who served in Iraq or Afghanistan suffer from anxiety and depression.
There was a 327 percent increase in anxiety disorders among vets between 2000 and 2012.
Vietnam veterans are twice as likely to have anxiety and depression compared to those who fought in the Korean War and World War II.
People with anxiety disorders are more likely to neglect professional and at-home dental care. Medications for depression or anxiety can also negatively impact oral health.
Some anti-depressants decrease your mouth's ability to make saliva, resulting in dry mouth. Saliva prevents tooth decay by protecting tooth enamel and buffering acids produced by plaque.
When saliva production decreases, dry mouth is more likely to occur. This causes tooth decay, gum disease, or even tooth loss.
In addition, many people who struggle with anxiety suffer from bruxism, which is the habit of grinding and clenching the teeth (typically during sleep). Long-term bruxism results in worn-down enamel, ultimately causing cavities and thin enamel.
Many veterans have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This condition makes it difficult to recover after encountering a terrifying incident.
The stress-related symptoms associated with PTSD are linked to serious oral damage.
A study conducted by periodontists at the University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine revealed significant enamel erosion in PTSD patients compared to those without PTSD.
Enamel erosion occurs when an acidic substance comes into contact with a tooth. The acids from the substance demineralize the tooth’s enamel and tissues beneath the tooth (dentin).
This results in erosion. Dental plaque buildup and gingivitis are also highly prevalent in veterans with PTSD.
Drug abuse is when someone takes substances excessively or in the wrong way. Long-term abuse of drugs can cause serious oral health complications.
Common dental conditions associated with alcohol and drug abuse include:
In 2013, 1 in 15 veterans over 17 years of age suffered from a substance abuse disorder to cope with mental illness.
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