On oral health related to general health and lifestyle. A study of two adult urban populations in southern Sweden

Abstract: The main purpose of this thesis was to study relations between oral health and general health, dietary and lifestyle factors. This was done in two comprehensive studies performed in the city of Malmö, Sweden. The total female population comprised 165 municipally-employed women at the age of occupational retirement, born in 1921-23. The pre- and post-retirement examinations, about 5 months before and 5 months after retirement, were performed between october 1985 and March 1987. The total male sample comprised 621 male residents participating in the study "Men born in 1914" and the study period was September 1982 to December 1983. The respoce rate in the female population was 70.3%, and in the male sample 77.7%. Odontological information could be obtained by telephone interviews of 40 female and 94 male non-responders. The odontological parts of the female and male studios included questionnaires and clinical examinations. In both studies measures of oral health were: number and location of remaining teeth, open frontal tooth spaces, removable dentures, pontics and extension of bridges, and self-assessed oral dryness. In the female study, decayed and filled teeth/tooth surfaces, endodontically-treated molars/premolars, mesial gingival pockets >5mm and oral hygiene status were additionally recorded Various factors were chosen to reflect general health, diet, nutrition and lifestyle. The mean number of remaining teeth in dentate women was almost 20 and in dentate men 15. About 60% of the women and 40% of the men had no removable appliances. Prevalence of edentulousness was 12% in the femlile and 24%, in the male populalion. Self-assessed oral dryness was associated with impaired oral health, poor general health, stress factors, medication, high serum concentrations of calcium, urate and triglycerides, low concentration of cholesterol as well as high intake of energy and some nutrients compared to participants without this problem. Impaired oral health was found in participants at low social or educational Ievels as well as in irregular dental attenders compaired to the others. Unmarried women and cohabiting men had on averaye more remaining teeth than others. Poor general health or frequent medical attendance was associated with impaired oral health. Serum concentrations of creatinine, triglycerides and urate were negatively related to the number of remaining teeth in the merged two populations. However, only triglycerides and urea in serum had an independent explanatory effect on the number of remaining teeth in men. High intake of energy or fat was associated with impaired oral health and women had lower intakes of eneryy, fat and carbohydrates than men. The average intake of ascorbic acid as well as regular supplementation of various vitamins was almost twice as large among women as among men and a high intake of ascorbic acid was related to a higher number of remaining teeth. No relations were found between oral health factors and nutritionally inadequate diet. Coffee or alcohol consumption as well as smoking were negatively correlated to the number of remaining teeth.