A Simple Feeding Efficiency Test as a Screening Tool for Oral Function in Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Oral Health
• Public Health

Background:

• Aspiration pneumonia is a significant health concern for the elderly.
• Existing oral function tests are often limited, requiring specialized equipment.
• A simple, comprehensive screening tool for oral function in older adults is needed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a novel feeding efficiency (FE) test as a screening indicator for oral function in adults aged 65 and older.
• To assess the correlation between the FE test and other oral health parameters.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 43 adults (≥65 years) who visited a dental clinic.
• Collected data included oral hygiene, salivary flow, tongue pressure, ODK, teeth count, and functional tooth units.
• Feeding efficiency (FE) was measured using a sausage-based task, calculated as food ingested (g) per chewing cycle.

Main Results:

• Participants with fewer functional tooth units (nif-FTU <6) had significantly lower FE values.
• Higher salivary bacterial counts were observed in individuals with low FE (<15).
• No significant association was found between salivary bacteria and tongue pressure, ODK, or nif-FTU.

Conclusions:

• The FE test may offer a more comprehensive assessment of oral function during eating than traditional methods.
• Low FE is linked to increased salivary bacteria, suggesting a potential connection to aspiration pneumonia risk.
• The FE test shows potential as a practical screening tool for detecting oral functional decline in older adults.