Oral microbial flora and oral malodour of the institutionalised elderly in Japan.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the oral health status, especially the level of oral microbial flora and oral malodour, of institutionalised elderly people compared with non-institutionalised elderly people.


METHODS
Three institutions and numerous private homes.


METHODS
56 institutionalised and 56 non-institutionalised elderly people.


METHODS
Institutionalised elderly people had higher levels of candida, staphylococci, and oral malodour.


RESULTS
Institutionalised elderly people had a higher level of candida in denture wearers, and a higher level of staphylococci and oral malodour compared with the non-institutionalised elderly.


CONCLUSIONS
The institutionalised elderly have a higher risk of opportunistic infections and oral health care should be improved to protect them from these infections and to reduce oral malodour.
Honda
E
E
Department of Geriatric Dentistry, Tsurumi University School of Dental Medicine, Yokohama, Japan. honda-eiki@tsurumi-u.ac.jp
D000368:Aged; D002175:Candida / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003778:Dentures / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006209:Halitosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007326:Institutionalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008297:Male; D009055:Mouth / Q000382:microbiology*; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013457:Sulfur Compounds / Q000032:analysis
D013457:Sulfur Compounds