Association between the number of remaining teeth and disability-free life expectancy, and the impact of oral self-care in older Japanese adults: a prospective cohort study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Tooth loss has been reportedly associated with shorter disability-free life expectancy (DFLE). However, no study has explored whether oral self-care offsets reduction in DFLE. The present study aimed to assess the association between oral self-care and DFLE in older individuals with tooth loss.

Methods

Data on the 13-year follow-up from a cohort study of 14,206 older Japanese adults aged ≥ 65 years in 2006 were analyzed. Information on the number of remaining teeth was collected using a questionnaire, and the participants were then categorized into three groups (0-9, 10-19, and ≥ 20 teeth). Additionally, "0-9" and "10-19" groups were divided into two subgroups based on whether they practiced oral self-care. DFLE was defined as the average number of years a person

SUBMITTER: Yamato M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9590145 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature