This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.Objectives: The aim of this study was to analyze the association between energy sources, fiber and mineral intake, and the number of existing permanent teeth in adults aged 55-84 years from the 5th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHNES) (2010)(2011)(2012). Methods: The subjects included 6,763 people who received oral examinations and answered questions on household income, smoking status and diet. We estimated the number of existing permanent teeth and food intake according to age group, sex, household income, and smoking status. A complex samples general linear model was applied to analyze the effect of nutrient intake on the number of existing permanent teeth adjusted for sex, household income, smoking status, and food intake. We calculated the mean intake of nutrients related to the number of existing permanent teeth in each tooth group. Results: The reduction in the number of existing permanent teeth correlated with an increased carbohydrate intake and a decreased potassium intake. The carbohydrate intake was lower in subjects with 25 or more teeth than that in subjects with 9 or less teeth. Potassium intake was higher in subjects with 20 or more teeth. Conclusions: The number of existing permanent teeth showed a negative correlation with carbohydrate intake and a positive correlation with potassium intake. We should reduce carbohydrate intake and increased potassium intake from fruits and vegetables to prevent systemic disease caused by tooth loss.

Abstract