Health and Wellness, Apathy and Ignorance—A Dental Hygiene and Disease Perspective Volume 63- Issue 2

Todd Brower*

• Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Restorative Clinical Sciences, University of Missouri, Kansas City, School of Dentistry, United States

Received: September 02, 2025; Published: September 16, 2025

*Corresponding author: Todd Brower DDS, MA, Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Restorative Clinical Sciences, University of Missouri, Kansas City, School of Dentistry, United States

DOI: 10.26717/BJSTR.2025.63.009868

Abstract PDF

Despite the abundance of health information available in the digital era, public understanding and prioritization of oral health remain disappointingly limited. Many individuals continue to view oral hygiene as secondary to overall wellness, focusing disproportionately on cosmetic concerns rather than functional and systemic health. This article examines the relationship between oral health, apathy, and systemic disease, exploring how poor dental hygiene contributes to cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension, autoimmune conditions, pulmonary infections, and impaired wound healing. The misplaced public emphasis on esthetics—such as the visible front teeth—overshadows the vital role of posterior dentition in mastication, balance, and systemic wellness. Additionally, growing reliance on unproven remedies such as essential oils, crystal therapy, and non–evidence-based practices detract from effective prevention and treatment. A comprehensive, science-based approach to oral hygiene is essential not only for maintaining dental integrity but also for reducing the burden of chronic disease.

Keywords: Oral Hygiene; Systemic Disease; Dental Health; Public Apathy; Esthetics; Evidence-Based Practice; Cardiovascular Disease; Autoimmune Disorders; Infection

In the modern age of instant information and unprecedented access to health education, it is paradoxical that oral health continues to be undervalued. Search engines, medical apps, and online portals provide endless resources on preventive dental care, yet widespread misconceptions and neglect persist. The public often equates oral health with cosmetic appearance—straight, white front teeth—while disregarding the critical systemic implications of untreated oral infections, periodontal disease, and caries in posterior teeth. This article explores the consequences of apathy and ignorance toward dental health, emphasizing its role in systemic illness. It further critiques societal trends that elevate superficial or alternative approaches above evidence-based practices, calling for renewed emphasis on education, prevention, and comprehensive oral care.

Appearance Over Function

The prioritization of appearance is deeply ingrained in modern society. Advertising campaigns highlight whitening strips, veneers, and clear aligners, presenting an image of oral health that equates beauty with wellness. Unfortunately, this emphasis on the ‘smile zone’ (the anterior six teeth) neglects the importance of posterior dentition. Back teeth, though less visible, are essential for mastication, speech, jaw stability, and occlusal harmony. Their neglect can result in severe periodontal disease, abscesses, and systemic complications.

Conditioning Through Media and Culture

Cultural conditioning, reinforced by social media, celebrity trends, and marketing, skews public perception. Many individuals equate dental visits with cosmetic enhancement rather than preventive health. Consequently, conditions such as gingivitis and early caries remain ignored until they advance into painful or debilitating stages.

Oral health is inseparable from systemic wellness. The mouth serves as a portal through which bacteria, inflammatory mediators, and pathogens can influence distant organs. Chronic oral infections act as reservoirs of inflammation, impairing immunity and contributing to systemic disease progression.

Cardiovascular Disease

Periodontal disease has been strongly linked with atherosclerosis and endocarditis. Bacteria such as Porphyromonas gingivalis enter the bloodstream, initiating endothelial dysfunction, promoting clot formation, and increasing the risk of myocardial infarction.

Hypertension

Emerging evidence suggests periodontal inflammation contributes to increased arterial stiffness and elevated blood pressure. Persistent oral infections maintain systemic inflammation, exacerbating hypertensive disease.

Diabetes Mellitus

A bidirectional relationship exists between diabetes and periodontal disease. Poor glycemic control accelerates periodontal destruction, while periodontal inflammation impairs insulin sensitivity, perpetuating a vicious cycle.

Autoimmune Disorders

Conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus erythematosus worsen in the presence of oral inflammation. The systemic immune dysregulation makes patients more vulnerable to periodontal destruction, while oral pathogens exacerbate systemic immune activation.

Respiratory Infections

Aspiration of oral pathogens increases the risk of pneumonia, particularly in elderly or hospitalized patients. Oral bacteria also contribute to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations.

Gastrointestinal Health

Oral pathogens influence gut microbiota, contributing to dysbiosis, gastritis, and even colorectal cancer risk.

Neurological Conditions

Recent research has associated periodontal pathogens with Alzheimer’s disease, suggesting chronic oral inflammation may contribute to neurodegeneration.

Impaired Wound Healing

Patients undergoing surgery or recovering from injury often experience delayed healing if oral infections remain untreated. Chronic inflammation and bacteremia compromise tissue repair and increase complications.

Pregnancy Complications

Periodontal disease has been linked with preterm birth, low birth weight, and preeclampsia, underscoring the role of oral health in maternal- fetal medicine.

Healing from extractions, implants, or periodontal surgery is significantly impaired in patients with systemic conditions. Hypertension, diabetes, autoimmune disease, and immunosuppression increase infection risks and slow recovery. A lack of preventive oral care exacerbates these complications, creating a burden for both patients and healthcare systems.

The rise of alternative and holistic remedies has compounded public apathy toward evidence- based dental care. Practices such as applying essential oils intraorally, rinsing with vinegar, or relying on ‘crystal healing’ promise natural solutions without scientific validation. While such methods may provide temporary placebo effects, they fail to address microbial biofilms, periodontal pockets, or systemic bacterial dissemination. Unfortunately, social media amplifies these practices, offering ‘trendy’ advice that undermines decades of scientific progress. Evidence-based care—brushing, flossing, professional cleanings, fluoride use, and timely restorative intervention— remains irreplaceable.

Patient Education

Clear, consistent messaging is needed to emphasize that oral health is not cosmetic luxury but systemic necessity.

Interdisciplinary Collaboration

Dentists, hygienists, physicians, and allied health professionals must coordinate care to monitor systemic implications of oral disease.

Public Health Campaigns

National campaigns should shift focus from whitening and esthetics to disease prevention, systemic health, and functional wellness.

Oral health is a cornerstone of systemic wellness, yet it remains undervalued in public consciousness. Apathy and ignorance fostered by societal conditioning and misplaced priorities place patients at risk for serious systemic diseases. By recognizing the chronic interplay between oral infection and conditions such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, autoimmune disorders, and impaired healing, dental professionals can advocate for comprehensive, evidence- based prevention and treatment. A person’s active attention to overall hygiene, as well as oral hygiene and healthcare, is crucial to achieve a balance mentally, physically and socially. Part of happiness and success is from the dignity and proper pride of maintaining good comprehensive health. It is time to move beyond cosmetic preoccupation and alternative fads, embracing oral care as an essential pillar of holistic health [1-9].

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