Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the associations between oral health literacy and oral health behaviours among community-dwelling older adults in Thailand.
 
 MATERIAL & METHODS: This community-based cross-sectional study was conducted at the District Health Promoting Hospitals (DHPH), Panarae district, Pattani province, Thailand, between 1-30 June 2020. A total of 271 community-dwelling older adults participated in the study. The inclusion criteria were independent living elderly who were 60 years or over and had at least one remaining tooth. Those who had a communication problem, severe chronic diseases, or disabilities were excluded. Data were collected by questionnaire interviewing. Binary logistic regression was analyzed.
 
 RESULTS: In the final model of regression analyses, older age (OR = 1.810, p = 0.035), limited education levels (OR = 2.113, p = 0.027), and participants who had the frequency of tooth brushing less than two times per day (OR = 1.905, p = 0.047) were statistically significant predictors of lower oral health literacy levels.
 
 CONCLUSIONS: The findings confirmed the strong associations between OHL and age, education levels, including the frequency of toothbrushing in the participants. This evidence indicates that an appropriate education program about oral health promotion probably induce adequate oral health literacy among the older population.
Highlights
United Nations reported that the proportion of the elderly had grown globally, driven by rising life expectancy levels and decreasing levels of fertility
In the final model of regression analyses, older age (OR = 1.810, p = 0.035), limited education levels (OR = 2.113, p = 0.027), and participants who had the frequency of tooth brushing less than two times per day (OR = 1.905, p = 0.047) were statistically significant predictors of lower oral health literacy levels
The findings confirmed the strong associations between oral health literacy (OHL) and age, education levels, including the frequency of toothbrushing in the participants
Summary
United Nations reported that the proportion of the elderly (aged 60 years or over) had grown globally, driven by rising life expectancy levels and decreasing levels of fertility. (UN, 2020) Thailand has become an aging society; in 2018, the Thai older population was 12 million or 18% of the total Thai people, and the number possibly increases to 20.5 million or 32.1% in 2040 (TGRI, 2018). The 8th National Oral Health Survey 2017 reported that approximately 77.6% of the Thai elderly had missing teeth and poor oral health. Several previous studies have reported that limited OHL influences inappropriate oral health-related behaviours and poor oral health in adults (Baskaradoss, 2018; Batista, Lawrence, & Sousa, 2018; Mohammadi, Malekmohammadi, Hajizamani, & Mahani, 2018). Only a few studies focused on OHL in older population, for instance, Hjertstedt et al
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