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Updated: Mar 31, 2026

Oral Health Assessment by Lay Personnel for Older Adults
Published on: February 2, 2020
Exploring the Link Between Oral Health and Self-Care Difficulty in Older Adults
Leah Botkin1, Claire E Altman2
1Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, USA.
Abstract:
The aging population in the United States continues to grow, emphasizing the need to promote independence and healthy aging. Oral health is an important indicator of overall well-being. Occupational therapists (OTs) are positioned to address oral health. This study examined the relationship between oral health and functional independence in self-care tasks among older adults. A secondary analysis of National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data, years 2011-2018, was conducted with 4,791 adults aged 65 and older. A multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios for self-care difficulty associated with oral health variables. Poorer self-reported oral health and less frequent flossing were significantly associated with difficulty in self-care tasks. Education, income, and age also demonstrated significant relationships with difficulty in self-care tasks. OTs should integrate oral health interventions into practice to enhance functional independence among older adults.
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