title: Impact of oral health behaviours and oral habits on the number of remaining teeth in older Taiwanese dentate adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the impact of oral health behaviours and oral habits on the number of remaining teeth in older Taiwanese dentate adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects comprised dentate patients (mean age, 60.0 ± 9.9 years) in Taiwan. Information on demographic data, oral health behaviours, oral habits and self-perceived health status was collected via self-administered questionnaires and dentition status was assessed by oral examination. Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to determine variables correlated with the low dentition group (subjects with less than 20 natural teeth or 8 functional tooth units).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The analysis showed that the low dentition group was more likely to be older and to exhibit low educational levels, less frequent use of dental floss, more common smoking habits, poor self-perceived dental health and to be exbetel- nut chewers. In addition, the low dentition group was less likely to be current betel-nut chewers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results underscore the importance of the use of dental floss and confirm the adverse effects of smoking on dental health. Hence, the dental profession should continue to encourage proper oral health behaviours and oral habits.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Dentistry, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. kjhsu@cc.kmu.edu.tw
authors.forename: Kun-Jung
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Yea-Yin
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Yen
authors.forename: Shou-Jen
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Lan
authors.forename: Yi-Min
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Huey-Er
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001114:Areca; D004245:DMF Index; D003729:Dental Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003742:Dental Devices, Home Care; D017266:Dental Prosthesis; D003817:Dentition; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009909:Oral Health; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D012649:Self Concept; D057566:Self Report; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking; D016388:Tooth Loss / Q000145:classification; D014099:Toothbrushing