Oral health promotion in adults with type 2 diabetes–a scoping review

Abstract

Objective Individuals affected with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are always at higher risk for developing oral diseases. The current scoping review was undertaken to map the extent, range and nature of the recent evidence on oral-health promotion and prevention in adults with T2DM, focusing on patient awareness, provider practices, barriers to care, and preventive strategies. Methods The review followed the Arksey and O'Malley framework as refined by Levac et al. and is reported in line with the PRISMA extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). Five databases (PubMed, MEDLINE, Web of Science, ProQuest and Google Scholar) were searched for peer-reviewed studies published in English between 2015 and 2025. Records were screened independently by two reviewers against pre-defined eligibility criteria; data were charted and synthesized narratively into themes aligned to the research questions. Results Of 412 records identified, nine peer-reviewed studies met the inclusion criteria. Three themes were identified: (i) associations between oral-hygiene practices, glycemic control and oral-health outcomes; (ii) patient knowledge and awareness of the diabetes–oral-health link; and (iii) healthcare-provider awareness and interprofessional collaboration. The evidence indicated that many patients are unaware of their increased oral-health risk and that oral-health guidance is inconsistently delivered by healthcare professionals however, where guidance was provided, oral-hygiene behaviors and outcomes were improved. Conclusions Within the limits of the current study, it could be concluded that oral health is under-addressed in T2DM care and that patient awareness and interprofessional referral pathways are frequently inadequate. These findings support the need for coordinated, evidence-based oral-health promotion within diabetes management and for higher-quality primary studies.