Oral health and depression in older Japanese people

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between oral dysfunction and depressive symptoms in Japanese community-dwelling seniors. Materials and methods: Participants included 351 community-dwelling seniors (189 men, 162 women) aged 77 years. During dental examination, teeth and periodontal condition, including number of teeth, number of dental caries, pocket depth and clinical attachment level, were assessed, and unstimulated and stimulated salivary flow rates were measured. The General Health Questionnaire 30 (GHQ-30) was used to assess depression. The Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology (TMIG) Index of Competence was used to assess activities of daily living. Results: Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that gender (odds ratio [OR] = 2.3), low unstimulated salivary flow rate (OR = 2.1), ‘Complaint of mouth pain’ (OR = 2.4), ‘Complaint of physical disorders’ (OR = 2.1), and the total TMIG Index of Competence score (OR = 2.0) were positively associated with the high GHQ-30 score. Conclusion: Subjective and objective oral dryness and oral pain are associated with depressive symptoms.