Association of Subjective Oral Status and Oral Health Behaviours With a History of Systemic Disease Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Abstract

Purpose Inadequate oral hygiene and management affect oral health and are associated with systemic diseases. Although systemic disease history may relate to subjective oral status and oral health behaviours, these associations remain insufficiently examined. This study investigated the associations between systemic disease history, subjective oral status, and oral health behaviours among community-dwelling older adults. Methods and Materials: We analysed data from 979 individuals aged 65–85 years, residing in Higashiura-cho, Aichi Prefecture, who participated in a 2018 group examination and completed a self-administered questionnaire. Multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate associations between oral-related variables (‘concerns about teeth and mouth condition’, ‘use of interdental brushes and dental floss’, and ‘experience of oral hygiene instruction’) and histories of systemic diseases (cancer, myocardial infarction, stroke, hypertension, diabetes, liver disease, lung disease, mental illness, and bone disease). Results The mean age was 73.0 ± 5.2 years, and 52.4% were female. No significant associations were observed between ‘concerns about teeth and mouth condition’, ‘use of interdental brushes and dental floss’, and systemic disease history. However, participants who had received oral hygiene instruction had higher odds of a history of hypertension (odds ratio: 1.4; 95% confidence interval: 1.0–2.0). Conclusion Among community-dwelling older adults, receiving oral hygiene instruction was positively associated with a history of hypertension. As the data were self-reported, findings should be interpreted with caution. Dental hygienists should consider patients’ systemic health status, particularly hypertension, when providing oral hygiene instruction.