How Your Dental Care Habits Can Shape Your Overall Health: Insights for College Students

A trip to the dentist might mean more than just checking your teeth. A recent study shows that undergraduates who regularly visit the dentist are likely to maintain other health habits too. They tend to schedule eye and physical exams, have health insurance, and feel better about their overall health.

“Primary care can be a gateway to other health services. When students regularly see one type of provider, it often leads to better overall health management.”

— Vanessa Alvarez, lead author and MPH student at George Mason University

This research was conducted by Vanessa Alvarez along with renowned nutrition expert Lawrence Cheskin at George Mason University. They analyzed data from 349 first-year students and found some key insights:

• Students who had a dental exam before starting college were more likely to continue this habit two years later.
• Having health insurance increased the likelihood of dental visits.
• Students with more financial support and higher optimism rated their health more positively.
• Dental exam rates remained steady even during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The study also explored anxiety’s role in seeking care. Some students with mild anxiety were more likely to go to the dentist, while those with higher anxiety tended to avoid it. “It’s a complex relationship,” Cheskin explained. A bit of anxiety might push someone to seek help, but too much can lead to avoidance.

This dental study is part of a broader research project called Mason: Health Starts Here. Since its launch in 2019, over a thousand students have participated in various health surveys and physical exams. Researchers are not just focusing on dental visits; they are also investigating topics like diet, exercise, mental health, and substance use. Initial findings have highlighted links between discrimination and eating disorders, as well as how loneliness can impact physical activity and diet.

Looking ahead, Alvarez is now studying eye exams, while other researchers are focusing on gynecological care for female students. Cheskin plans to examine how students’ diets and exercise routines shifted before and after the pandemic, and to explore trends in mental health such as depression and overall hopefulness.

This ongoing research is critical, especially considering recent statistics. According to the American College Health Association, nearly 40% of college students report feeling so depressed that it was difficult to function. Understanding health behaviors through studies like these can lead to more effective support systems for students.

For more on student health trends, you can check out this detailed report from the National Institute of Health [here](https://www.nih.gov). Every health choice can tie back to each other, and finding connections can help improve overall well-being.

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students, Anxiety, covid-19, Diet, Epidemiology, Exercise, Eye, Health Insurance, Mental Health, Nutrition, Obesity, Oral, Pandemic, Primary Care, Public Health, Research