RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Increasing age and loss of teeth weaken oral muscle strength. This study aimed to investigate the positive effects of orofacial myofunctional training on elderly people.METHODS: Thirty six elderly individuals in a welfare center and a senior citizen center were included in this study. A survey regarding lip and tongue strength suvsequent to orofacial myofunctional training and oral health-related quality of life was conducted from April to June, 2019. Data were analyzed using PASW statistics ver. 18.0.RESULTS: The experimental group, showed an increase in lip strength (from 9.79 to 10.31) and tongue strength (from 41.26 to 43.97) after orofacial myofunctional training. The perception of oral health-relatedquality of life was enhanced (from 2.26 to 2.07). In particular, the frequency of dry cough for food removal while swallowing decresed due to an incresed in the secretion of saliva (p<0.05). Correlation analysis showed that the number of functional teeth was positively related to oral health-related quality of life.CONCLUSION: Orofacial myofunctional training for improving lip and tongue strength is effective in the elderly. In older societies, oral strength should be maintained to improve oral health-related quality of life. It also suggests the interest of oral health workers and applying orofacial myofunctional training programs.