Although more adults are aware of the link between oral health and overall wellness, there is still a gap in understanding the link to specific health conditions, according to Delta Dental’s 2025 State of America’s Oral Health and Wellness Report.
Delta Dental Plans Association partnered with market research firm Material Holdings to conduct research for the report. Researchers surveyed 2,000 U.S. adults and parents of children 12 and under to create this year’s report.
Three notes:
- Ninety-one percent of adults said they believe their oral health is an integral part of their overall health.
- Although most adults across different generations agreed that oral health is linked to overall health, Generation Z showed the lowest level of agreement at 86%. This difference was attributed to Generation Z potentially not experiencing as many health issues.
- This year’s report showed less of an understanding among adults about the correlation between oral health and specific health conditions such as heart disease, respiratory illness, high blood pressure and stroke. For example, 44% of adults reported understanding the link between oral health and heart disease in 2025, compared to 49% in 2024.
