Abstract
Key summary pointsAimWe evaluated oral hygiene level and its association with oral health and general health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among older residents in long-term care facilities.FindingsOnly one-fifth of residents had good oral hygiene. Poor oral hygiene was associated with poor oral health and diminished HRQoL.MessageOral hygiene, oral health, and HRQoL may be improved with oral care education of caregivers, professional cooperation, and regular oral healthcare of older residents in long-term care facilities.
Highlights
Oral health is an important component of health, well-being, and quality of life
70% had diagnosed dementia and 86% needed much assistance in personal care according to the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR)
21% (N = 48) had good oral hygiene, whereas 35% (N = 81) had moderate and 44% (N = 102) poor oral hygiene according to the plaque index (PI)
Summary
Edentulousness has decreased and most older people, those residing in long-term care facilities, have some of their natural teeth left [1, 2]. About two in five residents in long-term care settings are edentulous [2,3,4,5,6]. The most common measurements have been number of present teeth and prevalence of oral diseases such as dental caries, periodontitis,. 40–77% have caries [3,4,5], and periodontal disease is very common [4, 6] in institutional settings. Oral cleanliness is crucial in maintaining good oral health and the basis for prevention of oral diseases among older residents in long-term care facilities
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