Abstract Objective: This narrative review synthesizes evidence on biochemical mechanisms linking lifestyle factors, diet, psychological stress, and obesity to oral health in university students, examining interconnected pathways through which these exposures converge to compromise oral health. Methods: A narrative (nonsystematic) synthesis of literature from PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar (2000–2025) was conducted, with emphasis on recent evidence (2020–2025). Articles were selected purposively for a thematic overview of biochemical pathways. Sixty studies met the inclusion criteria (55% published 2020–2025). Results: Unhealthy dietary patterns, sedentary lifestyles, psychological stress, and obesity converge through shared biochemical mechanisms: chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis dysregulation, and microbiome dysbiosis, to compromise oral health. Observational studies report twofold to threefold higher periodontal disease risk when multiple factors co-occur, consistent with synergistic interactions reported in individual studies. Salivary biomarkers show promise for early detection in campus health settings. Conclusion: Lifestyle, stress, diet, and obesity are interconnected determinants of oral health in university students through measurable biochemical pathways. Multidisciplinary strategies incorporating dental, nutritional, and mental health services, combined with institutional wellness policies, are recommended.
Goyal et al. (Tue,) studied this question.