Oral Health and Its Correlates: Water Quality, Diet, and Lifestyle Patterns in Deverkhana, Gurgaon

Background: Water quality, diet, and lifestyle behaviors strongly influence oral health, yet their combined impact in rural Haryana and relevance to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) remain underexplored. Aim: To assess the relationship between water quality, dietary patterns, lifestyle factors, and oral health status in a rural village and interpret the findings in the SDG context. Materials and Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 289 villagers using a structured questionnaire and clinical oral examination. Water samples from five sources were tested for fluoride using the SPADNS method and for bacterial contamination using the Most Probable Number (MPN) method. Dietary, lifestyle, and sociodemographic variables were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests. Results: All water sources met the WHO fluoride safety limit (≤1.5 mg/L), with groundwater showing the highest level (1.49 mg/L). Well and hand pump water displayed moderate bacterial contamination (MPN 35 and 46/100 mL). Education was significantly associated with decayed teeth ( P = 0.0315), and fluorosis was more common among groundwater consumers. Sedentary lifestyle, processed-food intake, and higher BMI were linked to poorer oral health indicators.