Stigma from oral health conditions may negatively affect one’s mental well-being and lead patients to avoid dental care, in turn reinforcing ongoing cycles of poor oral health, according to a review recently published in BMC Oral Health.
Strategies to reduce oral health stigma include strengthening one’s coping and resilience skills and encouraging nonjudgmental approaches within dental practices, the authors wrote.
“Oral health stigma has significant social and psychological consequences and impacts on care-seeking behaviours,” wrote the authors, led by Dr. Janine Doughty of the University of Liverpool School of Dentistry in the U.K. (BMC Oral Health, December 17, 2025).
The review examined how oral health stigma is understood, experienced, and its consequences while also attempting to identify potential ways to address it. The literature reviewed covered studies published between January 2014 and July 2024. Qualitative data were used to capture lived experiences of oral health stigma and explore strategies to reduce it, they wrote.
Patient and public involvement shaped the search approach and interpretation of results, including an informal survey on oral health perceptions and stereotypes. In total, 72 qualitative studies involving 2,455 participants were included, along with discussions with participants who self-identified as having experienced oral health stigma.
Many participants viewed oral health stigma as a visible physical trait tied to how others judged their oral condition, often associated with ideas of attractiveness, disgust, and observable symptoms. Individuals with conditions such as periodontal disease recognized that certain oral conditions could trigger negative reactions from others. Stigma was commonly expressed through feelings of shame, regret, guilt, and self-blame, the study’s authors wrote.
Additionally, participants reported discrimination, including bullying, staring, hurtful comments, assumptions about hygiene, and avoidance by others, which sometimes led them to delay or avoid dental care out of fear of judgment. The authors suggested addressing stigma through treatment, resilience-building, social support, and trauma-informed dental care.
The study had limitations. The review did not include a quality assessment, so it could not determine whether gaps in the evidence were due to limitations in the quality of the existing research, the authors added.
“These findings demonstrate that oral health stigma is a distinct and underexplored health-related stigma with significant implications for individuals and health systems, warranting further empirical attention,” they concluded.
