Poor Dental Health Increases Risks of Frailty in Older Men

A new study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society examined the relationship between poor oral health and older male adults' risks of increased frailty, reports EurekAlert . The researchers invited 1,722 surviving participants of the British Regional Heart Study when they were 71 to 92 years old, with subjects deemed frail if they had to deal with at least three issues that included exhaustion, weak grip strength, slow walking speed, weight loss, and low physical activity levels. The team determined 20 percent of surviving participants had no teeth, 64 percent had fewer than 21 teeth, 54 percent had gum disease, 29 percent had at least two symptoms of dry mouth, 34 percent rated their oral health as "fair to poor," and 11 percent reported trouble eating. The researchers concluded that men with such dental issues were more likely to be frail than men that did not have dental issues. They team also observed a strong association between complete tooth loss, dry mouth, and additional oral health concerns and developing frailty. They suggest these findings emphasize the importance of oral health for older adults.