The relationship between seven health practices and oral health status in community-dwelling elderly Thai.
OBJECTIVE
This study aims to analyse the relationship between seven health practices, oral health behaviors, and oral health status in community dwelling elderly Thai.


METHODS
The subjects were 612 elderly people (mean age = 68.8 ± 5.9 years). Questionnaires survey about sociodemographics, self-reported seven health practices and oral health behaviors were conducted by trained interviewers. Oral examinations investigated the number of teeth present, decayed teeth, periodontal status and functional tooth units (FTUs). Oral malodor was assessed by Organoleptic Test, and unstimulated saliva was collected for 5 min.


RESULTS
Five health practices (smoking, drinking, physical activity, breakfast and weight maintenance) were significantly related with oral health behaviors. ancova analysis demonstrated the following significant associations: (i) smoking behavior with number of teeth present, number of FTUs, decayed teeth, periodontal disease, oral malodor and salivary flow rate, (ii) drinking alcohol behavior with number of teeth present, number of FTUs, periodontal disease, oral malodor and salivary flow rate, (iii) eating breakfast behavior with periodontal disease, oral malodor and salivary flow rate, (iv) eating between-meal snack with number of teeth present, number of FTUs, decayed teeth and periodontal disease, (v) maintaining weight with number of teeth present, number of FTUs, periodontal disease and oral malodor, (vi) sleeping with number of teeth present, number of FTUs, periodontal disease, oral malodor and salivary flow rate, (vii) physical activity with periodontal disease and salivary flow rate.


CONCLUSIONS
Good health practices were related with good oral health behaviors. Moreover, general health practices were associated with the clinical oral health status such as number of teeth present, decayed teeth, FTUs, periodontal disease, oral malodor and salivary flow rate. The elderly with good general health practices were considered to have good oral health status. Improving general health habits are suggested to lead to better oral health for the elderly, and vice versa.
Department of Oral Health Promotion, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, JapanDepartment of Preventive Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Naresuan University, Phitsanuloke, ThailandDepartment of Oral Health Care Promotion, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, JapanCentre for Oral Health Strategy, NSW Health, Westmead, NSW, Australia.
Patcharaphol
P
Samnieng
Masayuki
M
Ueno
Takashi
T
Zaitsu
Kayoko
K
Shinada
Fredrick A C
FA
Wright
Yoko
Y
Kawaguchi
D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D001835:Body Weight; D062408:Breakfast; D003729:Dental Care; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000175:diagnosis; D003742:Dental Devices, Home Care; D003817:Dentition; D006209:Halitosis / Q000175:diagnosis; D015438:Health Behavior; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D057187:Independent Living; D009043:Motor Activity; D009909:Oral Health; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism; D012636:Secretory Rate / Q000502:physiology; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology; D012907:Smoking; D062410:Snacks; D013785:Thailand; D014099:Toothbrushing