Can daily lifestyle choices such as nutrition, physical activity, and psychological stress truly influence gene expression and oral health outcomes? Emerging research in epigenetics suggests they can. This presentation will explore the mechanisms by which modifiable behaviours that regulate gene and epigene activity, with implications for oral disease, carcinogenesis, and aging. We will examine how factors like diet, sleep, exercise, and stress modulate inflammation, cellular signaling, and tissue homeostasis within the oral environment. By understanding the dynamic interplay between lifestyle and gene regulation, dental professionals can gain new insights into disease prevention and the future of personalized oral healthcare.

Recent advances in epigenomics have highlighted the oral cavity as a dynamic site of gene-environment interaction, where cellular responses to external factors are encoded through DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNA activity. By bridging clinical oral pathology with molecular biology, this lecture provides a timely exploration of how the integration of lifestyle-driven epigenetic insights is set to transform risk assessment, early detection, and treatment planning in the evolving landscape of precision medicine.