Oral hygiene comprises daily practices—such as tooth brushing, flossing, tongue cleaning, and use of antiseptic rinses—aimed at preserving the health of teeth, gums, and other structures in the oral cavity. While traditionally considered a matter of dental wellbeing alone, emerging research over the past decades has shown strong associations between poor oral hygiene and a variety of systemic health issues, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, respiratory infections, adverse pregnancy outcomes, and even cognitive decline. This article reviews current literature, presents recent findings, and explores mechanisms by which oral health impacts overall health. Key factors include bacterial biofilms (plaque), chronic inflammation, translocation of pathogens or their byproducts into the bloodstream, immune response dysregulation, and lifestyle/dietary behaviors that cooccur with poor oral hygiene. Through a review of epidemiological and clinical intervention studies, this paper elucidates how regular and comprehensive oral hygiene can reduce risks of systemic disease. Research methodology involves crosssectional, cohort, and interventional designs. Recent results indicate that consistent toothbrushing combined with interdental cleaning is associated with lower incidence of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular mortality, and reduced risk of respiratory infections among vulnerable populations. The conclusion emphasizes the need for strengthening oral health promotion in public health agendas, integrating dental care into primary care, and advancing research into longterm effects and mechanisms.

Oral hygiene, systemic disease, periodontal disease, cardiovascular risk, diabetes mellitus, respiratory infections, biofilm, inflammation, preventive dental care, health promotion.

Franks K., Medara N., Curkovic K., Singh B., Mehta J., Bhatti R., King S. “Impact of Oral Hygiene Practices in Reducing Cardiometabolic Risk, Incidence, and Mortality: A Systematic Review.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2024;21(10):1319.

“When oral health affects overall health: biofilms, dental infections, and emerging antimicrobial strategies.” Med Sci Monit. 2025; article.

“Journal of Oral Hygiene & Health – The Importance of Oral Hygiene: A Guide to Effective Practices.” OMICS Online. 2024.

“Journal of Oral Hygiene & Health – Comprehensive Guide to Oral Hygiene Practices for Optimal Dental Health.” OMICS Online. 2024.

“The impact of professional oral health care on the oral health of older people: a systematic review and metaanalysis.” BMC Oral Health. 2024; Article 1558.

Henni et al. “Oral health and oral healthrelated quality of life among older adults receiving home health care services: A scoping review.” Gerodontology. 2023.

“Effect of oral health interventions for dependent older people — A systematic review.” Salazar et al. Gerodontology. 2024.

“The Influence of Oral Health on Comprehensive Health Outcomes in Critically Ill Patients.” Alrawashdeh BN, Hammadeen SA, Hamadeneh KN, et al. Cureus. 2025 Feb;17(2):e78605.

“Oral Health: something to smile about!” NIH / PubMed article.

WHO definitions and statistics on oral health and oral hygiene (e.g. from “Oral Hygiene” / “Oral Hygiene Practices” articles). (Various sources)

Studies on plaque, gingivitis, and periodontal disease (biofilm formation, bacterial pathogens) from Med Sci Monit. and OMICS articles.

Research on older adult populations and home health care services & professional oral care impact.