Number of teeth and nutritional status in Thai older people

• Main Authors: Srisilapanan P., Malikaew P., Sheiham A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2014
• Online Access: http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-0036886126&partnerID=40&md5=1ef0b903fdd4d9f56d931bdbdcae87ae; http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12489837; http://cmuir.cmu.ac.th/handle/6653943832/1011
• Institution: Chiang Mai University

Objective: To assess the association between the number of natural teeth and nutritional status in older Thai people aged 60-74 years. Research design: A cross-sectional study. Method: Stratified purposive sampling from senior citizen centres, households in sub-districts and municipal communities in Chiang Mai metropolitan area. Main outcome measures: The number of natural teeth and underweight status. Results: Mean Body Mass Index was 22.1 (± 4.0) kg/m2 in the whole sample; 29.4% of the total sample were underweight. After controlling for confounders (personal income and age), there was a significant association between BMI and number of teeth. The crude odds ratio of underweight were 2.42 for 19 or less natural teeth and 2.84 for no natural teeth compared to 20 teeth or above (P < 0.001). A significant association was also found between number of natural teeth and being underweight (< 20 kg/m2) in the older age group (68-74 years) after controlling for personal income, gender, education and current smoking (odds ratio = 2.27, 95% CI = 1.25, 4.13). Conclusions: The results support the association between the number of natural teeth and being underweight.