Study links adolescent tooth loss to bullying

Data published by the Australian government indicates that bullying is common in the country: 70% of children aged 12–13 have experienced at least one incident. Additionally, as many as 36% of children in this age group said that they experienced bullying monthly or even weekly. Victimisation can have significant mental health consequences, including depression and anxiety, which are associated with suicidal behaviours and substance abuse. It is also linked to physical outcomes such as obesity and inflammation.

Senior author Dr Ankur Singh, chair of lifespan oral health at Melbourne Dental School, said in a press release: “Tooth loss isn’t only a dental issue; it’s a social one too. For teenagers, it can have significant psychological impacts at a crucial time in their development.”

The study analysed data from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children, looking at 4,476 children from ages 8–9 through to 14–15 years. The researchers examined the participants’ incidence of tooth extractions due to caries or trauma and assessed bullying victimisation based on parent-reported cases of school bullying.

The findings showed that approximately 10% of children in the study had lost teeth through caries or injury and that children from lower socio-economic backgrounds, as well as rural or remote areas, were more likely to have experienced tooth loss. It also found that adolescents who had lost teeth faced 42% higher odds of being bullied.

In light of the findings, Dr Singh emphasised that poor oral health affects nutrition, sleep, self-confidence and overall well-being and is associated with conditions such as heart disease and high blood pressure. He said: “The government needs to invest in prevention programmes tackling oral health and improve equitable access to dental care, especially in rural and remote areas and in low-income communities.”

Lead author Yuxi Li, a PhD candidate at the University of Melbourne, noted: “Anyone who has been bullied at school can testify to what an awful experience it can be.” She continued: “As well [as] poor psychological outcomes, bullying can also have adverse physical outcomes such as overweight and obesity.”

The findings highlight the importance of prioritising preventive dental care and early intervention to lessen the social consequences of poor oral health. The researchers suggested that policymakers should integrate oral health initiatives into school-based anti-bullying programmes to help reduce the cascading effects of bullying on adolescents’ mental health and social well-being.

“We hope that this study will raise awareness about the link between oral health, bullying and young people’s overall well-being,” Li concluded.

The study, titled “Does tooth loss lead to school bullying? Evidence from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children”, was published online on 17 August 2025 in JDR Clinical and Translational Research, ahead of inclusion in an issue.