Scientists find remarkable link between healthy teeth and longer life
Poor oral health can be significantly reduced life expectancyThat’s according to a new Japanese study that calls for better dental care among older adults.
Poor oral health, defined as having fewer remaining teeth, dry mouth, difficulty speaking, and difficulty chewing and swallowing, may reflect poor overall health in aging people.
Someone may have most of their natural teeth, but still be considered “orally poor” if they have chewing issues, which includes their oral health. muscle strengthsalivation and swallowing ability.
Japanese researchers found that this type of oral fragility is strongly linked to a lower likelihood of healthy aging.
“Dentist visits may alleviate this outcome in older adults,” they said in the latest study published in the journal. Geriatrics and Gerontology International.
Researchers evaluated the oral health of 11,080 adults aged 65 and older in Japan.
Study participants were asked whether they had been to the dentist in the past six months and, using the national disability and death registries, whether they had been followed for an average of six years to see whether they remained healthy, developed a disability, or passed away.
Having a recent visit to the dentist was considered a sign that the participant was maintaining oral health.
The researchers also estimated each participant’s healthy life expectancy; this was a measure of how many years a person could live without suffering any disability or serious loss of health.
A dentist performs dental treatment for an American patient at Rubio Dental Group offices in Los Algodones, Mexico (AFP via Getty)
Of the 11,080 adults evaluated, 12 percent had oral weakness at the start of the study, and about 50 percent had seen a dentist within the past six months. Those with oral frailty were 23 percent more likely to transition from healthy to disabled during the follow-up period than those without. Additionally, participants with poor oral care were 34 percent more likely to die during follow-up.
Researchers recommend that older adults visit the dentist regularly to prevent or delay the decline in oral function and help them stay healthier and more independent for longer.
While the findings don’t prove that dentist visits directly lead to better health outcomes, the study says the relationship is strong and consistent across different groups.
“These findings demonstrate the need for public health policies that promote oral health, which can significantly improve quality of life and reduce the burden of disability in older adults,” the report stated.
