This study investigates the association between Life's Essential 8 (LE8) and periodontitis in American adults using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2009–2014. LE8 is a cardiovascular health indicator consisting of four health behaviors (diet, physical activity, nicotine use, and sleep quality) and four health factors (body mass index, blood lipids, blood glucose, and blood pressure). Participants were categorized into low, moderate, and high LE8 groups based on their scores. Periodontitis was defined according to CDC-AAP criteria and classified as mild, moderate, or severe. The study found a negative correlation between higher LE8 scores and the prevalence of periodontitis. Participants in the highest LE8 group had a 47% lower risk of periodontitis compared to those in the lowest group. The association remained significant even after adjusting for various covariates, including age, sex, race, income, education, and comorbidities. Subgroup analysis revealed that the relationship between LE8 and periodontitis was more pronounced in individuals without cardiovascular disease. The study suggests that LE8 could be a useful indicator for assessing periodontal health and highlights the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle to reduce the risk of periodontitis. However, the study's cross-sectional design limits the ability to establish causality, and further longitudinal research is needed to confirm these findings.This study investigates the association between Life's Essential 8 (LE8) and periodontitis in American adults using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2009–2014. LE8 is a cardiovascular health indicator consisting of four health behaviors (diet, physical activity, nicotine use, and sleep quality) and four health factors (body mass index, blood lipids, blood glucose, and blood pressure). Participants were categorized into low, moderate, and high LE8 groups based on their scores. Periodontitis was defined according to CDC-AAP criteria and classified as mild, moderate, or severe. The study found a negative correlation between higher LE8 scores and the prevalence of periodontitis. Participants in the highest LE8 group had a 47% lower risk of periodontitis compared to those in the lowest group. The association remained significant even after adjusting for various covariates, including age, sex, race, income, education, and comorbidities. Subgroup analysis revealed that the relationship between LE8 and periodontitis was more pronounced in individuals without cardiovascular disease. The study suggests that LE8 could be a useful indicator for assessing periodontal health and highlights the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle to reduce the risk of periodontitis. However, the study's cross-sectional design limits the ability to establish causality, and further longitudinal research is needed to confirm these findings.