Flossing Is Associated with Improved Oral Health in Older Adults

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Oral Health
• Preventive Dentistry

Background:

• Preventive oral habits are understudied in older populations.
• Maintaining oral hygiene is critical for overall health in seniors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the link between daily flossing and oral health outcomes in adults aged 65 and older.
• To investigate the association of flossing with periodontal disease, caries, and tooth loss over five years.

Main Methods:

• Examined data from 686 adults (≥65 years) including interproximal clinical attachment level (iCAL), probing depth (iPD), caries, and missing teeth.
• Assessed flossing behavior using the Periodontal Profile Class (PPC) system.
• Analyzed five-year tooth loss data for 375 participants using statistical tests.

Main Results:

• Elderly individuals who flossed regularly exhibited significantly lower prevalence of periodontal disease (lower iCAL and iPD) and fewer dental caries compared to non-flossers.
• Flossers had fewer missing teeth at baseline (8.6 vs. 11.5) and experienced substantially less tooth loss over five years (~1 vs. ~4 teeth).
• Molars showed the greatest benefit from flossing, with over 40% improvement.

Conclusions:

• Daily flossing is associated with significantly reduced oral disease and tooth loss in older adults.
• Flossing is an effective preventive oral hygiene behavior for maintaining dental health and mitigating disease progression in the elderly population.
• Regular dental visits also correlate with lower oral disease levels.