INTEGRATING LIFESTYLE MEDICINE IN ORAL HEALTHCARE

Abstract

Lifestyle medicine focuses on evidence based therapeutic approaches such as balanced nutrition, regular physical activity, restorative sleep, stress management, avoidance of risky substances and healthy social connections. Prevention of chronic diseases involves environmental and behavioral modifications, which are receiving growing emphasis in lifestyle medicine. Since conditions like dental caries, periodontal disease and oral cancers are strongly associated with modifiable lifestyle factors such as diet, use of tobacco, alcohol consumption, stress, physical inactivity, and poor sleep, it is becoming more widely acknowledged in oral health care. This review analyzes literature search from 2020 onwards to examine how lifestyle medicine can be integrated into dental care. It also highlights the six core components of lifestyle medicine and their impact on oral health, focusing on interdisciplinary collaboration, clinical strategies, and patient centered care. Motivational interviewing, diagnostic tools during visit to the dentist, screenings and very own lifestyle guidance are claimed as essential components. The review also discussed important evidence from previous case studies and preliminary research, while focusing on practical challenges such as time limit, absence of professional training, and systemic barriers. Moreover, this article provides a comprehensive framework for including lifestyle based solutions in dentistry to make overall performance better and limit disease progression.