Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 23, 2026

Oral Health Assessment by Lay Personnel for Older Adults
Published on: February 2, 2020
Relationship between swallowing problems and tooth loss in community-dwelling independent elderly adults: the
Nozomi Okamoto1, Kimiko Tomioka, Keigo Saeki
1Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, Nara Medical University, Nara, Japan. onozomi@naramed-u.ac.jp
Objectives:
To investigate the relationship between swallowing problems and the number of remaining teeth in healthy elderly people.
Design:
Cross-sectional.
Setting:
Nara, Japan.
Participants:
Three thousand six hundred sixty-three male and female volunteers aged 65 and older who were living independently were analyzed.
Measurements:
Swallowing problems were defined operationally using a questionnaire and the 30-mL water swallow test. Data were collected on the number of remaining teeth, maximum bite force, occlusal status, presence or absence of oral dryness, and medical history.
Results:
The prevalence of swallowing problems was 15.1% (n = 554) in this population. A positive correlation was observed between the number of remaining teeth and maximum bite force. The number of remaining teeth was categorized according to tertiles. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that the adjusted odds ratios for 0 to 13 or 14 to 24 remaining teeth to 25 to 32 remaining teeth for swallowing problems were 2.04 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.60-2.60) and 1.31 (95% CI = 1.02-1.70), respectively. Significant increases in these odds ratios were found in a trend test (P < .001).
Conclusion:
Tooth loss is associated with swallowing problems. Having fewer teeth inhibits masticatory ability, which disturbs the execution of smooth swallowing. Preventive measures against tooth loss at a younger age may be effective at reducing the risk of laryngeal penetration and aspiration at an older age.
Related Concept Videos
Teeth
In the bud stage, the tooth germ (an aggregation of cells) starts to form in the developing jawbone. During the cap stage, the tooth germ differentiates into enamel organ, dental papilla, and dental sac, which will later develop into the tooth's enamel, dentin and...
Assessment of the Mouth
Mouth Inspection
The inspection begins with visually examining the mouth for symmetry, color, and size.
Tooth Anatomy
The Crown, Neck, and Root
The visible part of the tooth is referred to as the crown. It's covered by enamel, the hardest substance in the human body. The crown is uniquely shaped for each type of tooth, allowing for different functions such as cutting, tearing, or grinding food.
Oral Cavity
Teeth: The teeth are the hardest structures in our bodies. Humans have two sets of teeth throughout their lifetime: deciduous (baby) teeth and permanent teeth. Each tooth consists of several parts: the crown (visible part), the root (embedded in the jaw), enamel (hard outer...
The Oral Microbiota
Deglutition
Swallowing can be divided into three stages: the voluntary phase, the pharyngeal phase, and the esophageal phase. Although the...

