INTERNET ADDICTION AND DENTAL HEALTH: CURRENT DATA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32782/health-2025.2.4Keywords:
internet addiction, oral health, dental health, psychosocial factors, eating disordersAbstract
In the modern era, the Internet has become an integral part of life, transforming all aspects of daily living, including social, educational, and healthcare domains. Despite its numerous advantages, excessive or uncontrolled Internet use, manifested as Internet addiction, is associated with depression, aggression, mental disorders, and interpersonal difficulties, especially among young people. Internet addiction is also linked to an unhealthy lifestyle: physical inactivity, insufficient sleep duration, irregular eating habits, and increased consumption of sweets and sugary beverages. According to evidence, lifestyle mediates the negative impact of Internet addiction on oral health. A Korean study found that Internet addiction directly disrupts sleep and indirectly affects oral health-related quality of life. In Japanese adolescents, Internet addiction was found to be indirectly associated with dental caries through eight behavioral factors (oral hygiene, sleep, diet). Moreover, Internet addiction is associated with the use of psychoactive substances, smoking, overweight, obesity, anxiety, stress, and poor sleep – all of which increase the risk of dental diseases. Teenagers with uncontrolled Internet use exhibit poor oral hygiene, frequent consumption of sugary foods, and irregular eating patterns, which contribute to dental caries and a decline in Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OH-QoL). These findings highlight the need to promote a healthy lifestyle and to develop preventive interventions aimed at reducing the negative impact of Internet addiction on both oral and general health. Internet addiction is not only a psychosocial issue but also a public health concern in dentistry that requires a comprehensive approach, medical education, and multidisciplinary collaboration.
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