While three-quarters of U.S. adults say they care about their oral health, virtually none of them connect it to whole-body health. The finding is from a new joint survey by Procter & Gamble and the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP).
The survey, conducted by Ipsos among more than 2,000 U.S. adults, found that only 3% of adults spontaneously associate oral health with overall well-being. The findings underscore a significant educational gap that clinicians and dental professionals can help close.
The oral-systemic awareness gap runs deep
Awareness of specific oral-systemic links was especially low. Nearly half of respondents (44%) said they had never heard of the connection between oral health and cardiovascular disease. That figure climbed to 57% among Gen Z .
Additionally 55% of respondents said they were unaware of links between oral health and diabetes, 67% to pregnancy complications, 68% to respiratory disease, and 77% to Alzheimer's disease. Only 12% of survey respondents ranked oral health among their top three health behaviors, behind exercise (59%) and healthy eating (52%).
"The mouth is one of the earliest and most accessible indicators of overall health," said Dr. Sukirth Ganesan, PhD, MPH, director of the Advanced Education Program in Periodontics at the Iowa College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics. "We can catch important health signals earlier, but only if patients and health care providers recognize the signs. Symptoms like bleeding gums can indicate underlying inflammation or infection and are often overlooked."
Most adults’ oral hygiene routines are inconsistent
The survey also offered insights into the oral care habits of adults and how dental hygiene can slip during disruptions. More than half of respondents (53%) admitted to skipping brushing at least once a day, and nearly 3 in 4 said that they scaled back their oral hygiene regimen during holidays or major events.
The most common disruptors cited were tiredness (41%), illness (40%), routine changes (39%), being too busy (36%), and stress (29%). Three times more respondents said they track their daily steps (30%) than their oral health symptoms (10%).
An opportunity for dental teams
Despite the gaps in understanding the oral-systemic connection, the survey highlights an opportunity for clinicians and hygienists. Eighty percent of respondents said they would feel that oral care is more important if they better understood its impact on overall health, and 92% said proof would motivate them to improve their routine.
"Americans clearly care about oral health, but many still don't fully understand how closely it's connected to overall well-being," said Dr. Stephanie Gans, DDS, senior scientist and professional and scientific relations manager for Crest + Oral-B.
Rebecca Fuller Beeler, PhD, vice president of integrated marketing communications at the AAFP, called for greater collaboration between dental and medical providers. "Too often, care for the mouth and the rest of the body happen independently," she said. "Family physicians can play an important role as the first line of defense against preventable illness by also promoting good oral health during patient visits."
P&G and the AAFP said the partnership seeks to encourage Americans to view oral care not merely as a hygiene habit but as an integral part of supporting their overall health.
