노인 대상 입체조 프로그램의 구강건조증 개선 효과

Abstract

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to confirm effects of oral exercise program intended to improve the condition of salivary hypofunction and to provide basic data for development of oral health program for the elderly Methods : The subjects were 125 elderly women who resided in Gyeong-In area and were aged 65 years and older. During a 2-month period, an oral exercise was conducted twice a week. A survey was conducted by interviewing the selected elders to determine the state of their subjective dry mouth. Unstimulated whole saliva was measured before and after the oral exercise program. Results : There was a significant improvement in subjective dry mouth symptoms, severity scores of dry mouth after the oral exercise, and there were affected by age and income level. There was a significant increase in unstimulated whole-saliva after the oral exercise program. There was positive interrelationship between dry mouth Symptom improvement level and inconvenience improvement level, and between inconvenience improvement level and the increase of unstimulated whole-saliva. Conclusions : This study showed the effects of the oral exercise program. It is suggested that this oral exercise program has positive effects on the condition of dry mouth. For the explicit improvement effect on the condition of dry mouth, the oral exercise program needs to be carried out in consideration of the elderly's general characteristics.