Self-reported oral hygiene habits among institutionalised elderly and their relationship to the condition of oral tissues in Taubaté, Brazil.
OBJECTIVE
To record self-reported hygiene habits, examine the oral conditions of a sample group of institutionalised elderly, and examine possible relationships between these habits and conditions.


METHODS
Cross-sectional.


METHODS
All the institutions for the elderly in Taubaté, Brazil.


METHODS
The entire population of these institutionalised elderly people (n = 553).


METHODS
The subjects were interviewed and underwent an oral examination.


METHODS
Oral hygiene habits, oral conditions and statistical relationships between habits and oral conditions were recorded.


RESULTS
The average age of the subjects who knew their age (n = 364) was 74.9 years (+/-12.9), and 64.7% of the sample group were females. Denture-related stomatitis was found in 19.5%, impaired manual dexterity in 40%, dry mouth sensation in 36.3%, difficulty in performing oral hygiene in 20%, no oral hygiene-related orientation in 54.1%, no periodic oral examinations in 59.5%, and no tongue cleaning in 68.3% was declared. Among dentate subjects, 73.3% had periodontal disease, 54.7% had caries, 26% reported no toothbrushing, and 7.3% reported flossing. Of the denture wearers, 7% did not brush their dentures. Denture-related stomatitis showed a statistical relationship with impaired manual dexterity (p = 0.012) and an inverse statistical relationship with denture brushing frequency (p = 0.006). Periodontal disease showed an inverse relationship to flossing (p < 0.001) and tongue cleaning (p = 0.0026). Caries showed an inverse relationship with tooth-brushing (p = 0.043), flossing (0.022), proper oral hygiene orientation (p = 0.041) and periodical check-ups (p = 0.007).


CONCLUSIONS
Oral hygiene practices in this sample group were found to be inadequate, and statistically significant relationships were verified between the lack of good oral hygiene practices and the deleterious oral conditions.
Marchini
L
L
School of Dentistry, University of Taubaté, Taubaté, Brazil. leomarchini@directnet.com.br
Vieira
P C
PC
Bossan
T P
TP
Montenegro
F L B
FL
Cunha
V P P
VP
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007326:Institutionalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D009909:Oral Health; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013282:Stomatitis, Denture / Q000453:epidemiology; D014099:Toothbrushing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology