Oral Health and Lifestyle Medicine in Viet Nam: Shared Risk Factors, Diabetes, and Medical–Dental Collaboration

Oral Health and Lifestyle Medicine in Viet Nam: Shared Risk Factors, Diabetes, and Medical–Dental Collaboration

Primary category: Evidence & Clinical Practice

Secondary category: Research & Implementation

Article type: VLMA Perspective

Last reviewed: October 30, 2026

A person with type 2 diabetes may attend regular medical appointments, have their blood glucose monitored, and receive advice about nutrition, physical activity, and medication. Yet nobody may ask whether they have bleeding gums, persistent dental discomfort, or difficulty chewing.

In a dental clinic, the same patient may receive appropriate treatment for periodontal disease without the dentist having complete information about recent glycemic control, prescribed medications, or other medical conditions.

Neither consultation is necessarily inadequate. The problem is that information relevant to the patient's care may remain separated between two healthcare disciplines.

Oral health is closely connected with general health. Several oral diseases share important risk factors with other noncommunicable diseases, and diabetes has a particularly important clinical relationship with periodontal disease. Understanding these connections may create opportunities for prevention, earlier recognition of problems, and more coordinated care.

For evidence-based Lifestyle Medicine, the question is not whether dental treatment should become part of another medical discipline. It is how shared health behaviors, chronic disease management, and appropriate collaboration between healthcare professionals can contribute to better care.

Oral Health Is Part of Overall Health

Oral health involves much more than the absence of toothache or the appearance of healthy teeth.

Dental caries, periodontal disease, missing teeth, and conditions affecting the oral mucosa can interfere with eating, speaking, sleeping, and social interaction. Oral problems may affect nutritional intake, daily functioning, confidence, and quality of life. Some conditions, including oral cancer, require timely recognition and appropriate specialist care.

The World Health Organization estimated in its March 2025 oral health fact sheet that oral diseases affect nearly 3.7 billion people worldwide. Although many oral diseases are largely preventable or can be treated effectively in their early stages, access to affordable prevention and treatment remains uneven. [1]

The World Health Organization's Global Strategy and Action Plan on Oral Health 2023–2030, published in May 2024, calls for stronger prevention and better integration of oral healthcare into primary healthcare, noncommunicable disease prevention, and universal health coverage. Rather than treating dental services as something people seek only when symptoms become severe, the strategy recognizes oral health as part of general health and healthcare systems. [2]

This direction has particular relevance to Lifestyle Medicine. Nutrition, tobacco use, alcohol consumption, and the social conditions influencing health behaviors are important concerns in both oral health and chronic disease prevention.

However, oral diseases are not interchangeable, and lifestyle interventions cannot prevent or manage every oral condition. Dental caries, periodontitis, oral cancer, and other oral diseases have different biological mechanisms, clinical presentations, and treatment requirements.

Oral health should therefore not be described as an additional officially recognized pillar of Lifestyle Medicine. It is better understood as an area where established lifestyle-related approaches can complement appropriate oral hygiene, professional prevention, and dental treatment.

Shared Risk Factors, Different Clinical Needs

One of the clearest connections between oral health and Lifestyle Medicine is the presence of shared risk factors.

Free sugar consumption is a particularly important example. Dental caries develops through interactions involving dental biofilm, fermentable carbohydrates, tooth surfaces, and several protective and harmful factors. When microorganisms in dental biofilm metabolize sugars, they produce acids that can cause mineral loss from tooth structure. Repeated exposure to sugars increases caries risk, particularly when protective measures such as fluoride use and effective oral hygiene are inadequate.

The mechanisms involved in dental caries are different from those contributing to obesity or type 2 diabetes. Nevertheless, reducing excessive free sugar consumption can support oral health and broader dietary health.

The World Health Organization's August 2025 fact sheet on sugars and dental caries identifies free sugars as a major risk factor for tooth decay and a shared concern across several noncommunicable diseases. Free sugars include sugars added during food preparation or manufacturing, as well as those naturally present in honey, syrups, fruit juices, and fruit juice concentrates. They are not equivalent to all carbohydrates or the sugars naturally contained within intact fruits and vegetables. [3]

The World Health Organization recommends limiting free sugars to less than 10% of total energy intake, ideally below 5%, to reduce caries risk throughout life. How frequently sugars are consumed also matters, particularly when sweetened beverages or snacks are consumed repeatedly during the day.

In Viet Nam, this creates opportunities for practical dietary conversations. Sweetened coffee, tea, bottled drinks, and snacks between meals may contribute to repeated sugar exposure. Rather than simply instructing people to avoid familiar foods, healthcare professionals can help them understand how the amount and frequency of sugar consumption influence oral health.

Dietary advice still needs to reflect individual circumstances. A person receiving glucose-lowering medication may require recommendations that consider metabolic control, prescribed treatment, nutritional needs, and eating patterns. Advising everyone to eliminate carbohydrates would not be an appropriate interpretation of oral health prevention guidance.

Tobacco is another shared risk factor. Smoking increases the risk of periodontal disease and oral cancer, while also contributing to cardiovascular disease, respiratory illness, and other serious conditions. Alcohol consumption is relevant particularly because alcohol and tobacco are established risk factors for cancers of the oral cavity and related sites.

In some communities, chewing areca nut or betel quid is another exposure worth recognizing. The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies areca nut and betel quid, including preparations without tobacco, as carcinogenic to humans (Group 1). This distinction matters in cultural settings where betel quid chewing may occur, including Viet Nam. [4]

These connections support coordinated preventive education. However, reducing harmful exposures does not replace clinical treatment. A person with advanced periodontal disease may still require professional periodontal therapy, while a suspicious oral lesion needs appropriate assessment regardless of the patient's smoking, alcohol, or dietary history.

Prevention Requires More Than Lifestyle Advice

Although dietary habits and substance use matter, oral disease prevention requires measures that are specific to oral health.

Twice-daily toothbrushing with fluoride-containing toothpaste remains a fundamental preventive measure. The World Health Organization recommends encouraging the use of toothpaste containing approximately 1,000–1,500 parts per million fluoride. Children require age-appropriate toothpaste quantities and supervision to reduce unnecessary swallowing. [1]

People with reduced salivary flow, existing dental disease, difficulties maintaining oral hygiene, or other elevated risk factors may require additional preventive care. Professional dental assessment remains important because oral conditions cannot always be recognized or managed through self-care alone.

A significant development occurred on March 5, 2026, when the World Health Organization published WHO Guideline on Environmentally Friendly and Less Invasive Oral Health Care for Preventing and Managing Dental Caries. [5]

The guideline addresses prevention, minimally invasive interventions, and the appropriate use of mercury-free dental materials. It evaluates approaches such as fluoride varnish, silver diamine fluoride, dental sealants, and selected restorative materials, considering clinical effectiveness, safety, cost, and environmental consequences.

Its importance extends beyond the choice of dental materials. It reflects a broader approach to preventing disease where possible, preserving healthy tooth structure, and avoiding unnecessary intervention while ensuring that patients receive appropriate treatment.

These principles are compatible with evidence-based prevention, but the selection of dental procedures and materials remains a professional clinical decision. Not every minimally invasive intervention is suitable for every patient, and some conditions still require restorative or more extensive treatment.

Lifestyle Medicine can contribute by supporting healthier dietary patterns, tobacco cessation, and other relevant behaviors. Dental professionals remain responsible for diagnosing oral disease and determining the need for preventive, periodontal, restorative, or other dental treatment.

Diabetes and Periodontitis: What Does the Evidence Show?

The relationship between diabetes and periodontal disease is one of the most clinically important examples of the connection between oral and systemic health.

Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease associated with dental biofilm and a dysregulated host response. It affects the tissues supporting the teeth and can lead to the destruction of periodontal attachment and supporting bone. In advanced cases, untreated disease may result in tooth mobility and tooth loss.

Diabetes can increase susceptibility to periodontal disease and influence its severity, particularly when glycemic control is inadequate. Changes in inflammatory responses, tissue repair, and other biological processes contribute to this relationship.

Observational research has also found associations between periodontal disease and poorer glycemic outcomes. This has led researchers to describe the relationship as potentially bidirectional: diabetes may adversely influence periodontal health, while periodontal inflammation may contribute to difficulties with glycemic regulation.

That interpretation requires caution. An association between periodontitis and higher glycated hemoglobin does not, by itself, establish that periodontal disease caused the deterioration in glucose control. Age, smoking, socioeconomic circumstances, access to healthcare, and other factors may influence both conditions.

Clinical trials provide additional evidence by examining whether treating periodontitis changes glycemic outcomes.

A Cochrane systematic review published in April 2022 included 35 randomized trials involving 3,249 participants, most of whom had type 2 diabetes. For the main comparison, moderate-certainty evidence from 30 trials involving 2,443 analyzed participants showed that periodontal treatment using subgingival instrumentation reduced glycated hemoglobin, commonly known as HbA1c, by an average of approximately 0.43 percentage points after three to four months compared with no active periodontal treatment or usual care. [6]

This is a clinically meaningful finding. It suggests that appropriate periodontal treatment may contribute to better glycemic control in people who have both diabetes and periodontitis.

However, the result should not be interpreted as a predictable benefit for every patient. The trials differed in their treatment arrangements, patient characteristics, and methods. Several studies had concerns about risk of bias, and the evidence available at longer follow-up intervals was less extensive.

The review also did not establish that periodontal treatment independently prevents major diabetes complications, reduces cardiovascular events, or eliminates the need for glucose-lowering medication. An improvement in HbA1c does not establish diabetes remission.

The primary purpose of periodontal treatment remains the management of periodontal disease and the prevention of further damage to the tissues supporting the teeth. Improved glycemic control may be an additional benefit for some patients, but periodontal treatment should not be presented as a cure for diabetes or an alternative to established medical management.

The evidence supports closer attention to periodontal health in people with diabetes, while preserving the respective roles of medical and dental treatment.

What Diabetes Guidelines Say About Dental Care

The American Diabetes Association's Standards of Care in Diabetes—2026 explicitly include dental care within comprehensive diabetes management. The relevant recommendations were introduced in the 2025 Standards and retained in the 2026 edition. [7]

Recommendation 4.15 advises that people with diabetes should be referred for a dental examination at least once per year. This recommendation carries an evidence grade of E, reflecting expert consensus or clinical experience.

Recommendation 4.16, graded B, calls for coordination between medical and dental teams when glucose-lowering medications or treatment plans may need adjustment before or after dental procedures.

These recommendations have practical implications.

For a physician managing diabetes, asking about gum bleeding, dental discomfort, chewing difficulties, and dental attendance may help identify problems that would otherwise remain unaddressed.

For a dentist treating someone with diabetes, relevant medical information may influence treatment planning. Recent glycemic findings, prescribed medications, cardiovascular or kidney conditions, and other clinical factors may be important in particular circumstances.

Consider a patient receiving insulin or another medication associated with hypoglycemia. If a dental procedure requires fasting or temporarily affects normal eating, there may be a need to coordinate glucose monitoring and medication management with the responsible medical team.

This does not mean that every person with diabetes requires the same precautions for every dental procedure. Clinical decisions should be based on the individual's condition, prescribed treatment, and the nature of the planned intervention.

The American Diabetes Association's recommendations are international professional guidance. They do not automatically establish a legally mandatory annual dental examination requirement for every person with diabetes in Viet Nam.

Nevertheless, they provide a useful reference for understanding why oral health deserves attention in diabetes care and why communication between medical and dental professionals can be important.

Medical–Dental Collaboration in Everyday Practice

Better collaboration does not necessarily require a large new program or a complicated referral pathway. It can begin with recognizing when another professional's expertise is needed.

Consider a hypothetical patient receiving treatment for type 2 diabetes who reports persistent gum bleeding and increasing difficulty chewing. The treating physician may recognize that these symptoms warrant dental assessment without attempting to establish a specialized periodontal diagnosis.

The patient can be advised to seek evaluation by an appropriately qualified dental professional, who can examine the oral condition, establish the diagnosis, and determine the appropriate treatment.

If periodontal therapy is required, the dentist can consider the patient's relevant medical history when planning care. Where diabetes control, prescribed medications, or other conditions create specific concerns, communication with the medical team may be appropriate.

The same principle applies in the opposite direction. A dentist may recognize a medical concern that needs further assessment or identify uncertainty about how prescribed medication should be managed around a dental procedure. Rather than making decisions outside the applicable professional scope, the dentist can communicate with the responsible medical practitioner.

The aim is not to transfer responsibility from one discipline to another. It is to ensure that clinically relevant information reaches the professionals who need it and that patients do not receive conflicting instructions.

Similar issues can arise with other conditions. Certain medications may contribute to dry mouth, which can increase oral health problems and affect comfort. Some patients undergoing cancer treatment may need specialist dental assessment because of treatment-related risks. Difficulty chewing may also affect nutritional intake and require attention beyond dentistry.

These situations show how a concern identified during one consultation may have implications for another part of the patient's healthcare.

For healthcare organizations, the practical opportunity is to make appropriate communication and referral easier, rather than creating additional documentation or procedures without a clear clinical purpose.

Effective collaboration also requires clear responsibilities. The medical team remains responsible for decisions about diabetes management within its professional scope, while dental diagnosis and treatment remain the responsibility of appropriately qualified dental professionals. Relevant information should be exchanged through arrangements that respect patient confidentiality and applicable data protection requirements.

Oral Health Is Not Only About Individual Behavior

Advice about oral health often focuses on individual actions: brush regularly, consume less sugar, avoid tobacco, and visit a dentist.

These recommendations are important, but people's ability to follow them is influenced by circumstances beyond personal motivation.

Cost, household income, working hours, geographic location, transportation, disability, and the availability of appropriate services may all affect access to dental care. A person may understand the importance of treating a dental problem but postpone an appointment because of financial pressures or competing responsibilities.

Access to preventive products and reliable health information may also vary.

These considerations are relevant to Viet Nam, although their extent and distribution should be assessed through reliable local evidence rather than assumed from international experience.

The World Health Organization's Oral Health Country Profile: Viet Nam, published in 2022, provides useful national context. However, its oral disease prevalence estimates are based on 2019 data. They should not be presented as current measurements of oral disease prevalence in 2026. [8]

The importance of social circumstances is also recognized in the Lifestyle Medicine Core Competencies: 2025 Update, first published online in October 2025 and appearing in the March–April 2026 issue of the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine. The update added a competency addressing the application of Lifestyle Medicine interventions in the context of social determinants of health to improve health outcomes and health equity. [9]

For oral health, this reinforces the need to consider whether recommended behaviors and necessary services are realistic and accessible for the individual.

Someone who cannot afford dental treatment does not necessarily lack concern for their health. A person who cannot easily leave work for an appointment may need practical support or more accessible services, rather than another reminder to seek care.

Effective prevention requires appropriate health information, access to professional services, and an understanding of the conditions that influence people's ability to act on recommendations.

International Oral Health Developments in 2026

Recent international developments offer additional perspectives on the integration of oral health into broader healthcare and prevention.

In March 2026, the World Health Organization Regional Office for the Western Pacific published its Western Pacific Regional Implementation Plan for the Global Strategy and Action Plan on Oral Health. The plan had been endorsed at the Regional Committee's 2025 session and identifies priorities for accelerating progress toward the global oral health objectives for 2030. [10]

It places oral disease prevention within the broader noncommunicable disease agenda and emphasizes primary healthcare, equitable access, and universal health coverage.

For Viet Nam, the regional plan provides a policy reference for considering how oral health may be better connected with prevention and other healthcare services. It does not, by itself, establish a Vietnamese clinical practice guideline or authorize new clinical services.

Another development concerns oral health surveillance.

On October 6, 2026, the World Health Organization highlighted an updated oral health module for its STEPwise approach to noncommunicable disease risk factor surveillance. The module had been revised in 2024, and its design and application were described in an article published in the October 2026 issue of the Bulletin of the World Health Organization. [11,12]

The updated module combines questions about oral health and access to care with a simplified clinical assessment. It is designed to make oral health information easier to collect within broader population-level surveillance of noncommunicable diseases and their risk factors.

An important feature is that appropriately trained survey personnel, including those who are not oral health specialists, may undertake the simplified assessment under the relevant surveillance procedures.

This is a population surveillance approach, not a substitute for comprehensive dental examination or diagnosis. The simplified assessment is primarily intended to identify selected oral health indicators, including tooth loss and visible untreated dental caries. It does not provide a comprehensive periodontal assessment, which generally requires specialized examination methods.

The distinction is especially important when discussing diabetes and periodontitis. An oral health surveillance tool may help describe population-level patterns, but it should not be used as though it could establish an individual diagnosis of periodontal disease.

The significance of the updated module is primarily methodological and public health-related. It offers a way to examine oral health alongside other health risks rather than collecting all oral health information through entirely separate systems.

Whether such an approach could be applied in Viet Nam would depend on appropriate institutional arrangements, methodology, training, oversight, and compliance with relevant national requirements.

For professional education, these developments provide an opportunity to discuss how oral health information can contribute to broader health research and prevention without confusing population surveillance with individual clinical care.

Professional and Legal Considerations in Viet Nam

Recognizing connections between oral and systemic health does not change the professional responsibilities of healthcare practitioners.

The Law on Medical Examination and Treatment No. 15/2023/QH15, as amended and reflected in Consolidated Document No. 26/VBHN-VPQH dated February 26, 2026, provides the principal legal framework for medical examination and treatment in Viet Nam. Decree No. 96/2023/NĐ-CP and Circular No. 32/2023/TT-BYT, as amended, provide relevant implementing provisions. Circular No. 25/2026/TT-BYT, effective August 15, 2026, amended selected provisions of Circular No. 32/2023/TT-BYT and other Ministry of Health regulations. [14–18]

The Law on Disease Prevention No. 114/2025/QH15, effective July 1, 2026, also provides a broader statutory context for preventing and managing noncommunicable diseases and related health risks. However, preventive health objectives do not independently authorize activities that require professional qualifications, practice permissions, or healthcare facility licensing. [13]

These distinctions matter in medical–dental collaboration.

A physician may recognize that a patient requires dental assessment, but this does not automatically authorize the physician to diagnose or treat specialized periodontal conditions outside their lawful professional scope.

Similarly, a dentist may recognize medical concerns requiring further assessment without thereby acquiring authority to independently manage diabetes or modify prescribed systemic treatment beyond the applicable professional scope.

Healthcare professionals and facilities must act within their legally permitted activities, qualifications, and professional responsibilities. Consultation and referral should be arranged according to the patient's needs and relevant legal and institutional requirements.

Information sharing raises additional considerations.

Medical and dental records may contain sensitive personal data, including diagnoses, medications, treatment histories, and other information about a patient's health.

The Law on Personal Data Protection No. 91/2025/QH15 and Decree No. 356/2025/NĐ-CP, both effective January 1, 2026, establish relevant requirements governing the processing and protection of personal data. [19,20]

When healthcare professionals or organizations exchange patient information, they must consider the applicable legal basis, permitted purposes, confidentiality obligations, consent where required, and appropriate safeguards.

Professional collaboration does not automatically permit unrestricted sharing of medical records.

International clinical recommendations must also be distinguished from Vietnamese regulatory requirements. A recommendation from an international professional organization may provide useful clinical guidance without independently establishing a legally binding requirement in Viet Nam.

These boundaries are necessary to ensure that collaboration remains professionally responsible, clinically appropriate, and consistent with patients' rights.

What This Means for Lifestyle Medicine Education

Oral health illustrates why healthcare education benefits from connecting clinical disciplines rather than treating every chronic condition in isolation.

A physician may need to understand when oral symptoms warrant dental assessment. A dentist may need to recognize the relevance of diabetes, glucose-lowering medications, and other medical conditions to dental treatment. Both may benefit from a better understanding of shared risk factors and the limitations of current scientific evidence.

For the Vietnam Lifestyle Medicine Alliance (VLMA), this represents a relevant area for professional education and scientific knowledge exchange.

Future educational activities could explore the relationship between diabetes and periodontal disease, shared risk factors in oral and noncommunicable diseases, preventive oral healthcare within chronic disease management, and appropriate communication between medical and dental professionals.

Such activities should involve relevant professional expertise. Content addressing specialized dental diagnosis, treatment, or clinical recommendations would benefit from meaningful review or participation by appropriately qualified dental professionals.

These are potential directions for education and collaboration, not claims that VLMA has established a dental service, clinical referral network, or medical–dental treatment program.

VLMA is a physician-led professional platform operated by Vietnam Lifestyle Medicine Alliance Company Limited. Its intended contribution is to support evidence-based Lifestyle Medicine through professional education, capability development, scientific knowledge exchange, and responsible collaboration.

The purpose is not to extend the clinical boundaries of Lifestyle Medicine beyond the available evidence or applicable professional requirements. It is to help healthcare professionals better understand where their work intersects and where collaboration may benefit patients.

Bringing Oral and General Health Closer Together

Oral health and general health are connected in ways that deserve attention, but the nature of those connections matters.

Free sugar consumption, tobacco use, alcohol consumption, and social circumstances can influence oral health and other noncommunicable diseases. Diabetes has an important clinical relationship with periodontal disease, and appropriate periodontal treatment may contribute to improved glycemic control in some patients.

Medical–dental communication may also help professionals recognize treatment-related risks and provide more consistent care.

These findings should not be interpreted as evidence that every oral disease causes systemic illness or that dental treatment can replace established medical treatment. Nor should oral health be reduced to a matter of personal behavior when access to care and living conditions can strongly influence outcomes.

For healthcare professionals in Viet Nam, a useful starting point is to pay attention to oral health when managing chronic disease and to recognize when another discipline's expertise may be needed.

A physician does not need to become a dentist, and a dentist does not need to become a diabetes specialist. What matters is that both recognize the limits of their own roles, understand the clinically relevant connections, and communicate when appropriate.

Oral health is part of overall health, but it also requires its own professional expertise. Recognizing both principles provides a sound foundation for more coordinated, evidence-based care in Viet Nam.

Selected References

1. World Health Organization. Oral Health. Fact sheet. March 17, 2025.

2. World Health Organization. Global Strategy and Action Plan on Oral Health 2023–2030. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2024. ISBN: 978-92-4-009053-8.

3. World Health Organization. Sugars and Dental Caries. Fact sheet. August 14, 2025.

4. International Agency for Research on Cancer. Betel-quid and Areca-nut Chewing and Some Areca-nut-derived Nitrosamines. IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans. Volume 85. Lyon: International Agency for Research on Cancer; 2004.

5. World Health Organization. WHO Guideline on Environmentally Friendly and Less Invasive Oral Health Care for Preventing and Managing Dental Caries. Geneva: World Health Organization; March 5, 2026. ISBN: 978-92-4-011694-8.

6. Simpson TC, Clarkson JE, Worthington HV, et al. Treatment of Periodontitis for Glycaemic Control in People With Diabetes Mellitus. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2022;4. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD004714.pub4.

7. American Diabetes Association Professional Practice Committee for Diabetes. 4. Comprehensive Medical Evaluation and Assessment of Comorbidities: Standards of Care in Diabetes—2026. Diabetes Care. 2026;49(Supplement 1)–S88. DOI: 10.2337/dc26-S004.

8. World Health Organization. Oral Health Country Profile: Viet Nam. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2022.

9. Rea BL, Cheema S, Lanza S, et al. Lifestyle Medicine Core Competencies: 2025 Update. American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine. 2026;20(3):443–451. First published online October 28, 2025. DOI: 10.1177/15598276251379821.

10. World Health Organization Regional Office for the Western Pacific. Western Pacific Regional Implementation Plan for the Global Strategy and Action Plan on Oral Health. Manila: World Health Organization; March 27, 2026. ISBN: 978-92-9-062129-4.

11. World Health Organization. WHO Reinforces Oral Disease Surveillance With an Updated NCD STEPS Module. Departmental update. October 6, 2026.

12. Rendell N, Benzian H, Watt RG, et al. An Oral Health Module for Use in Noncommunicable Disease Risk Factor Surveys. Bulletin of the World Health Organization. 2026;104(10):690–697. DOI: 10.2471/BLT.25.295572.

13. National Assembly of Viet Nam. Law on Disease Prevention No. 114/2025/QH15. December 10, 2025. Effective July 1, 2026.

14. National Assembly of Viet Nam. Law on Medical Examination and Treatment No. 15/2023/QH15. January 9, 2023. Effective January 1, 2024, as amended.

15. Office of the National Assembly of Viet Nam. Consolidated Document No. 26/VBHN-VPQH: Law on Medical Examination and Treatment. February 26, 2026.

16. Government of Viet Nam. Decree No. 96/2023/NĐ-CP Detailing Certain Articles of the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment. December 30, 2023.

17. Ministry of Health of Viet Nam. Circular No. 32/2023/TT-BYT Detailing Certain Articles of the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment. December 31, 2023, as amended.

18. Ministry of Health of Viet Nam. Circular No. 25/2026/TT-BYT Amending and Supplementing Selected Provisions of Several Ministry of Health Circulars, Including Circular No. 32/2023/TT-BYT. June 30, 2026. Effective August 15, 2026.

19. National Assembly of Viet Nam. Law on Personal Data Protection No. 91/2025/QH15. June 26, 2025. Effective January 1, 2026.

20. Government of Viet Nam. Decree No. 356/2025/NĐ-CP Detailing Certain Articles and Measures for Implementing the Law on Personal Data Protection. December 31, 2025. Effective January 1, 2026.

Editorial and Professional Scope Note

This article presents the professional perspective of the Vietnam Lifestyle Medicine Alliance on oral health, shared risk factors, diabetes, periodontal disease, and medical–dental collaboration, based on evidence and regulatory information reviewed as of October 30, 2026.

It is intended for professional information, education, and scientific knowledge exchange. It does not constitute a clinical practice guideline, individualized medical or dental advice, a treatment or referral protocol, an oral health screening program, or an authoritative interpretation of Vietnamese law. The patient scenarios are hypothetical and do not describe actual VLMA clinical activities.

VLMA is a physician-led professional platform operated by Vietnam Lifestyle Medicine Alliance Company Limited. It is not a licensed medical or dental care facility, healthcare licensing authority, or healthcare accreditation organization. VLMA does not independently diagnose or treat oral diseases, provide dental examinations or procedures, prescribe medical or dental treatment, or operate a clinical medical–dental referral service.

Clinical assessment, treatment, and follow-up must remain under the responsibility of appropriately authorized healthcare professionals and facilities, within their lawful scopes of practice. Lifestyle-related interventions should not delay or replace necessary medical or dental care. Any exchange of patient information must comply with applicable professional, confidentiality, and personal data protection requirements.

References to international research and professional guidance are provided for educational purposes. Their inclusion does not imply that those recommendations automatically have regulatory force in Viet Nam or that VLMA has formally adopted, implemented, validated, or certified the clinical approaches discussed in this article.