New Survey Underscores Gaps in Oral-Systemic Health Awareness
Delta Dental’s 2025 State of America’s Oral Health and Wellness Report shows that Americans value their oral health, but still miss key connections between the mouth and the body. Dental anxiety and misunderstandings about oral health’s role in systemic disease are keeping some patients out of the dental operatory.
Delta Dental’s newly released “2025 State of America’s Oral Health and Wellness Report” reveals that while most Americans understand the importance of oral health, many still don’t grasp how deeply it connects to systemic conditions. Now in its fifth year, the nationwide survey of 2,000 adults and parents of young children shows that while awareness of the general link between oral and overall health is nearly universal, fewer respondents recognized specific associations with heart disease, respiratory illness, and high blood pressure, marking a decline from last year.
The report also highlights dental anxiety as a persistent barrier to care. One in five adults (21%) reported skipping dental visits due to anxiety, with fear of pain topping the list of reasons. Alarmingly, 14% of parents admitted to avoiding taking their children to the dentist for the same reason.
Pregnancy-related oral health knowledge is also lagging. While most women who are or have been pregnant value dental visits, only 33% of adults recognize the increased risk of gingivitis during pregnancy, and just 26% understand the associated risks of preterm birth and low birth weight.
On the bright side, preventive care remains a priority. Steady attendance for preventive visits and a drop in unexpected visits suggest growing patient commitment. Click here to read more.
