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Are Self-Reported Masticatory Ability and Regular Dental Care Related to Mortality?

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The journal of nutrition, health & aging

Abstract

Aim

The aim of the study was to examine whether a combination of self-reported masticatory ability and regular dental care is linked to mortality and issuance of new long-term care insurance (LTCI) service certifications.

Methods

Older residents in institutions or in need of LTCI certification requirements were excluded, and self-administered questionnaires were sent to 5,400 older adults in 2013; these participants were followed for 5 years. The total response rate was 94.3%, and our final sample comprised 4,824 older adults (89.3%). We used 3 items to assess self-reported masticatory ability and regular dental care. These included (1) decline in chewing abilities of the posterior teeth on either side, (2) not brushing one’s own teeth or dentures at least once a day, and (3) not visiting the dentist at least once a year.

Results

The mean age of the participants at baseline was 75.9 years, and 58.4% of them were women. Main outcomes included mortality (n = 562) or new LTCI certification requirements (n = 1187) during the 5-year period. Multivariate analyses revealed that a poor score on masticatory ability and on regular dental care produced significant adverse health outcomes leading to earlier negative outcomes. The score is considered poor as it increases relative to the 0-point reference.

Discussion

Regular dental care (both self-and professional care) and maintaining masticatory ability are both important. Hence, public activities focusing on preventive oral health from middle age onward is important.

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Acknowledgements

We are extremely grateful to all the study participants and to all the staff of the Kami town Hall who were involved in this study.

Funding

This work received financial support from Health, Labour and Welfare Sciences Research Grants (Comprehensive Research on Aging and Health, grant number H24-Choju-Ippan-001), Research Funding for Longevity Sciences from Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (grant number 16dk0110019h0001 and 19dk0110033h0001) and Research Funding for Longevity Sciences from the National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology (grant number 27-1 and 30-6), Japan. No support was received from industry. The funding source played no role in the design or conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis, or interpretation of the data; or preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Human Health Science, Kyoto University, 53 kawahara-cho, Shogoin, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan

    Mika Okura

  2. Shiga University of Medical Science, Shiga, Japan

    M. Ogita

  3. National Center of Geriatrics and Gerontologya, Obu, Japan

    H. Arai

Authors
  1. Mika Okura
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  2. M. Ogita
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  3. H. Arai
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mika Okura.

Ethics declarations

This study was conducted in accordance with the guidelines proposed by the Declaration of Helsinki, and the study protocol was reviewed and approved by the Ethics Committee of the Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine (approved in August 2012, No. E1457) and the Ethics Committee of the National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology (approved in February 2017, No. 1012). Participants were accordingly provided with written explanations of this study’s intent, including assurances that all participation was voluntary and that they had the right to withdraw at any time. Only the welfare staff of the Kami town Hall can match the ID and personal information that was given to participants in advance. They were informed which participating or not would have no any influence on future welfare services or their current life in Kami town.

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The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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Okura, M., Ogita, M. & Arai, H. Are Self-Reported Masticatory Ability and Regular Dental Care Related to Mortality?. J Nutr Health Aging 24, 262–268 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-020-1314-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-020-1314-7

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