IADR Abstract Archives
Association between number of teeth and healthier food choices in older men
Objectives: To investigate whether the number of teeth was associated with healthier food choices made by older men in Northern Ireland.
Methods: A representative sample of 60-70 year-old dentate men in Northern Ireland underwent a dental examination between 2001-2003. Food choice was assessed in 2015 using a food frequency questionnaire. Logistic regression models were used to investigate associations between number of teeth and frequency of food choice of healthier foods (olive oil, fruit, vegetables, fish, wholegrain foods and nuts). Models were adjusted for possible confounders including age, BMI, diabetes, smoking, education, socio-economic status and periodontitis.
Results: A total of 1012 men provided valid dietary information 13.1 years (SD 0.6) after their baseline dental examination (91% response rate). The average age of the men was 77.0 years (SD 2.9). Men with twenty or more teeth were significantly more likely to eat fruit on a daily basis than those with fewer teeth, 68.4% compared with 59.5%, p<0.01; to eat vegetables on a daily basis, 53.0% compared with 42.2%, p<0.001; and to eat wholegrain foods daily, 76.3% compared with 67.3%, p<0.01. Men with twenty or more teeth were significantly more likely to ever eat nuts than those with fewer teeth, 63.3% compared with 36.5%, p<0.0001; adjusted OR=2.58 (1.93-3.45), p<0.0001; to ever use olive oil, 53.0% compared with 38.3%, p<0.0001; adjusted OR= 1.63 (95% confidence interval 1.22-2.18), p<0.01; and to ever eat fish, 88.2% compared with 78.2%, p<0.0001; adjusted OR= 1.87 (1.29-2.70), p<0.001.
Conclusions: Diet quality is critically important for healthy ageing and prevention of chronic disease. In this representative sample of older men, greater number of teeth was independently associated with quality of food choice over a decade later.
Methods: A representative sample of 60-70 year-old dentate men in Northern Ireland underwent a dental examination between 2001-2003. Food choice was assessed in 2015 using a food frequency questionnaire. Logistic regression models were used to investigate associations between number of teeth and frequency of food choice of healthier foods (olive oil, fruit, vegetables, fish, wholegrain foods and nuts). Models were adjusted for possible confounders including age, BMI, diabetes, smoking, education, socio-economic status and periodontitis.
Results: A total of 1012 men provided valid dietary information 13.1 years (SD 0.6) after their baseline dental examination (91% response rate). The average age of the men was 77.0 years (SD 2.9). Men with twenty or more teeth were significantly more likely to eat fruit on a daily basis than those with fewer teeth, 68.4% compared with 59.5%, p<0.01; to eat vegetables on a daily basis, 53.0% compared with 42.2%, p<0.001; and to eat wholegrain foods daily, 76.3% compared with 67.3%, p<0.01. Men with twenty or more teeth were significantly more likely to ever eat nuts than those with fewer teeth, 63.3% compared with 36.5%, p<0.0001; adjusted OR=2.58 (1.93-3.45), p<0.0001; to ever use olive oil, 53.0% compared with 38.3%, p<0.0001; adjusted OR= 1.63 (95% confidence interval 1.22-2.18), p<0.01; and to ever eat fish, 88.2% compared with 78.2%, p<0.0001; adjusted OR= 1.87 (1.29-2.70), p<0.001.
Conclusions: Diet quality is critically important for healthy ageing and prevention of chronic disease. In this representative sample of older men, greater number of teeth was independently associated with quality of food choice over a decade later.