Kids’ teeth can help identify those at risk of mental health problems
Teeth were said to be as good a predictor as low socioeconomic status, which is one of the biggest risk factors for poor mental health
KIDS’ teeth can be used to identify those at risk of developing mental health problems, a study suggests.
Boffins also found a link between the condition of children’s gnashers when they fall out and poor behaviour.
Identifying these youngsters early would allow them to receive psychological help before problems develop.
Dr Erin Dunn, from Massachusetts General Hospital, analysed the milk teeth and mental health of 37 kids over several years.
Children with thinner enamel - the hard outer part of the tooth - were more likely to develop particular problems.
These included aggression, inattention, impulsiveness and hostility.
She added: “As a scientific community, we have spent decades trying to find ways to identify people – especially children – who are at risk of having mental health problems in the future.
“Imagine if teeth could begin to unlock that mystery.
“And better yet, is all of this information stored within a resource that most parents either keep stored in a drawer or throw away?
“This whole area of science is really surprising and unexpected because there's so little attention to using teeth in psychiatry.
“Anthropologists or archaeologists focus on teeth all the time. But for researchers in the field of mental health, this is very new.”
One in 10 primary school children in England have at least one mental disorder, figures from NHS Digital show.
This rises to 1 in 7 at secondary school and 1 in 6 at college.
Teeth serve as a record of a youngster’s upbringing and can reveal the quality of their diet and their stress levels.
The researchers examined the incisors - the pointy teeth at the front of the mouth - which start to form during pregnancy.
The findings were presented at the annual conference of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, in Washington DC.
- GOT a story? RING The Sun on 0207 782 4104 or WHATSAPP on 07423720250 or EMAIL exclusive@the-sun.co.uk