title: Enhancing the quality of life in elderly women through a programme to improve the condition of salivary hypofunction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purposes of this study were to examine the effects of oral exercise intended to improve the function of the oral cavity in the elderly and their quality of life to pave the way for the development of oral-health promotion programmes geared towards the elderly.
  
  
  METHODS
  The subjects were 78 female Koreans who resided in Seoul and were aged 65 years and older. During a 3-month period, an oral function promotion programme was conducted twice a week, between 10.00 am and 12.00 pm, applying oral exercise suggested by a Japanese public health centre. A survey was conducted by interviewing the selected women to determine the state of their subjective dry mouth, quality of life related to oral health and jaw functional limitation. Their opening, unstimulated whole saliva and pronunciation speed were measured before and after the oral function exercise programme.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The subjects showed a significant improvement in subjective dry mouth symptoms, relevant behaviour, the level of discomfort caused by dry mouth and subjective jaw functional limitation during mastication and swallowing and emotional expression after receiving the oral exercise. After the oral exercise, there was a significant increase in mouth opening, unstimulated whole saliva and speaking speed ('patakala' pronunciation) after oral exercise. There was also significant progress in their quality of life related to oral health. Overall improvement in subjective dry mouth symptoms and relevant behaviour over time after oral exercise had a positive correlation with the level of improvement in discomfort triggered by dry mouth and mastication. The level of improvement in OHIP-14 had a positive correlation with the level of overall improvement in dry mouth symptoms and behaviour, the level of improvement in discomfort by dry mouth and that in mastication and swallowing.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study showed the effects of the oral function promotion programme and correlation of oral condition and oral health-related quality of life. It is suggested that this oral function promotion programme has positive effects on both objective and subjective oral conditions. It is strongly recommended that this programme, along with other oral health promotion programmes, be implemented to improve oral function and oral health-related quality of life for the elderly.
authors: Oral Health Service Team, Korea Health Promotion Foundation, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Eun-Pyol
authors: EP
authors: Cho
authors: Soo-Jeong
authors: SJ
authors: Hwang
authors: Joanne B
authors: JB
authors: Clovis
authors: Tae-Yong
authors: TY
authors: Lee
authors: Dai-Il
authors: DI
authors: Paik
authors: Yoon-Sook
authors: YS
authors: Hwang
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003679:Deglutition / Q000502:physiology; D004435:Eating / Q000502:physiology; D004644:Emotions; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008409:Mastication / Q000502:physiology; D008410:Masticatory Muscles / Q000502:physiology; D052580:Muscle Stretching Exercises; D009334:Neck Muscles / Q000502:physiology; D009909:Oral Health; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011788:Quality of Life; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D012064:Relaxation Therapy; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism; D012782:Shoulder / Q000502:physiology; D013060:Speech / Q000502:physiology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology; D014059:Tongue / Q000502:physiology; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*