Salutogenic factors that may enhance lifelong oral health in an elderly Japanese population

Objectives:  The objective of this study was to assess which factors affected the maintenance of more than 20 teeth in Japanese patients aged 80 years and older, using a life-course perspective. Subjects and methods:  The oral examination was carried out by dentists. The questionnaire asked about family background, background during various stages of growing up, tooth brushing, snacking, job history, health examination, war experience, number of children, oral health condition and dietary preferences. Some of the questions asked about conditions when they were a primary school student, 20 years old, 40 years old and 60 years old. Multivariable logistic-regression analysis was used to adjust for sex at significant life stages. Results:  The group with mothers who did not prefer sweet food had an approximately four times greater chance of having ≥20 teeth compared with the group with mothers who preferred sweet food. Those participants who did not prefer sweet food themselves were approximately three to five times more likely to be in the ≥20 tooth group compared with those who preferred sweet food at all stages of their life course. Non-smokers and those who quit smoking were three times more likely to be in the ≥20 tooth group than those who smoked throughout the years from 20 to 60 years of age. Conclusions:  Factors associated with the maintenance of a sufficient number of functioning teeth were: not having a mother with a preference for sweet food, not having a preference for sweet food themselves and not smoking over a long period.