["Oral healthiness score for 8020" predicts loss of teeth in village residents].

OBJECTIVE: It is important for people to maintain an appropriate lifestyle through out life to enjoy a healthy life. We have already developed a health check questionnaire, "8020 Oral Healthiness Score", in an endeavor to help people aged 80 keep more than 20 teeth. The health check consists of ten questions chosen from our previous residents' study. Named the "Sawayaka Score" it has been in use since 1999. In the present study, we focused on the results of a three-year follow-up to determine whether the Score may predict tooth loss for screening purposes. METHODS: A total of 716 village residents who participated in medical and dental checkups in 1999 as the baseline year were followed in T village of Aichi-Prefecture. The total numbers of teeth lost were examined after 1-, 2- and 3-years and odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were generated for analysis of screening. RESULTS: At the 1999 baseline, the average number of retained teeth was 23.7 +/- 6.2 (mean +/- standard error) (23.0 +/- 6.8 in males, and 24.4 +/- 5.5 in females), and the average oral health score (mean +/- standard error) was 13.1 +/- 3.9 points (12.8 +/- 4.0 in males, 13.4 +/- 3.9 in females). A low score of 4-8 at the baseline predicted major tooth loss, while an average score was associated with loss of only one or 2 teeth loss in the residents. The present study confirms that persons with a favorable lifestyle tend to retain more teeth. CONCLUSION: It can be concluded that the 8020 Oral Healthiness Score is a useful tool to support residents' oral health promotion and predict tooth loss.

[The relationship between normal swallowing functions, food ingestion and the lifestyle of users in a day service center].

OBJECTIVES: The physical and mental condition of elderly people changes every day and we hypothesized that this influences food intake and swallowing functions. The present study was undertaken to clarify relationships between daily living conditions and swallowing function. METHODS: The subjects were users (105 males and 219 females) of 6 day-service centers. We performed a survey of IADL (Instrumental Activities of Daily Living), mobility, eating and swallowing behavior, and general health. In addition, we used RSST (Repetitive Saliva Swallowing Test) as a screen for functional dysphasia. RESULTS: Women who had normal food ingestion and swallowing functions were capable of doing shopping, housework and taking care of money independently. Males and females who were capable of moving around from place to place had normal food ingestion and swallowing functions. With regard to daily eating habits and health condition, males and females who had normal food ingestion and swallowing functions were able to consume ordinary food, able to eat without any help, and often laugh. CONCLUSION: It was concluded that a normal swallowing condition in the elderly is related to laughing often, being independent in daily life, moving around and eating ordinary meals without any help.