Researchers have uncovered the disconnect between Americans who are motivated to take care of their oral health and those understand its impact on the rest of the body. A recent survey found that 76% of Americans say they are motivated to take care of their oral health, but only 3% associate oral health with whole-body health.¹

A survey conducted by Procter & Gamble, the maker of Crest and Oral-B, and the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), the companies polled over 2,000 Americans and found 44% of respondents had never heard of the connection between oral health and cardiovascular disease. Awareness continued to drop as other conditions were brought up, including diabetes (55%), respiratory disease (68%), pregnancy complications (67%), and Alzheimer’s disease (77%).¹

Dentistry must chime in to make a difference

Dr. Sukirth Ganesan, DDS, PhD, MPH, and director of the Advanced Education Program in Periodontics at the Iowa College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics said the survey findings highlight how Americans haven’t been fully exposed to education about whole-body heath. Bridging that gap will rely on both dental professionals and physicians to deliver a clear consistent message to patients about oral health being an essential part of whole-body health.

“Dentistry has done a good job talking to itself about oral-systemic health, but we haven't always communicated effectively outside our profession,” Ganesan said. “At the same time, the literature has been flooded with association studies that sometimes overstate conclusions without adequately addressing confounding factors.”

While the disconnect feels big, Dr. Brintha Vasagar, MD, MPH, chief medical officer at Progressive Community Health Centers and member of AAFP said that patient education will help people feel like they have more control over health behaviors. She said by adding communication between dentist and physicians and utilizing programs such as Smiles for Life and providing in office fluoride varnish for children have helped to educate families about the importance of oral health. 

Other broader healthcare communities have also began working towards more collaborative work, such as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). CMS recently added more prioritized medical-dental integration efforts.

Collaboration sounds simple, but there’s big barriers

Both clinical experts believe collaboration is the answer but point out some structural barriers. There are separate electronic health records, training environments, disconnected insurance models, different reimbursement structures, and isolated educational pathways all limit communication between dental and medical professionals.

“Most clinicians already appreciate the value of collaboration: the challenge now is creating systems and workflows that make that collaboration easier and more routine,” Ganesan said.

Ganesan provided a real time example of type 2 diabetes or obesity management, he said how patients are recommended to go through ophthalmology, podiatry, behavioral health, nephrology, and lipid clinics. Dental evaluations should be part of this process and be a standard when managing chronic diseases.

By creating a system that includes dental evaluations, Ganesan said there is a better chance to identify early risk factors, provide a more thorough patient evaluation and communicate a more educated response.

The mouth is the first warning sign

Beyond improving collaboration, Vasagar said oral findings such as bleeding gums, dry mouth, ulcers or any sudden changes in oral health can be signs of systemic issues.

Ganesan agreed, adding that the strongest evidence exists in bidirectional relationship between things such as periodontitis and diabetes. He also pointed to other areas that have substantial evidence connections like cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome.

An opportunity, not a setback

Neither expert is shocked at the survey. While both clinicians find the results to be upsetting, they understand why the numbers are what they are. Ganesan sees this as an opportunity to help communities have a better understanding, as well as provide feedback to professionals on which areas patients need more education in.

"We have spent decades separating oral health from overall healthcare—in how we educate patients, structure payment, and deliver care," Ganesan said. "The statistic is disappointing, but it's not surprising."

From the survey, 80% of Americans said oral care would feel more important if they better understood its impact on overall health, while 92% said proof would motivate them to improve their routine.¹

Looking into the future, Ganesan said that he suspects healthcare professionals to look back and question why oral biomarkers, the oral microbiome, and periodontal inflammation weren't incorporated into routine medical risk assessment much sooner.

“The mouth is an incredibly valuable window into human health, and we're only beginning to understand its full potential,” Ganesan said.

References

1. Procter & Gamble. New survey from P&G and American Academy of Family Physicians reveals 76% of Americans say they care about their oral health, but when polled, only 3% of Americans associate oral health with whole-body health. Business Wire. June 11, 2026. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260611044736/en/