Effect of Oral Health Care Program on the Oral Function of the Elderly

Abstract

In order to prepare a new prevention program under the long term care insurance from the fiscal year 2006, we have organized an oral health care program for the elderly in a town of Kagoshima prefecture. We conducted a series of oral health education, i.e., instruction on brushing and flossing, and oral function exercises. Before and after the three months program, we evaluated the unstimulated and stimulated salivary flow rate, the counts of S. mutans, the counts of repetitive saliva swallowing test (RSST), bilateral bite force and the number of permanent teeth and artificial teeth. According to the results, a statistically significant improvement was observed in RSST and the unstimulated and stimulated salivary flow rate, but not in the S. mutans level and bite force. The present research suggests the effectiveness of the oral health care program for the aged. A larger sized and longer period intervention will be necessary in order to validate our findings.

Evaluation of a Japanese “Prevention of Long‐term Care” project for the improvement in oral function in the high‐risk elderly

“…This result is similar to that in an earlier study by Tomita et al 8 . In contrast, other studies have noted an improvement in the RSST score in the elderly as a result of training of oral function 29,30 . Ooka et al .…”

“…This result is similar to that in an earlier study by Tomita et al 8 In contrast, other studies have noted an improvement in the RSST score in the elderly as a result of training of oral function. 29,30 Ooka et al also reported a significant improvement after intervention in individuals scoring less than 3 in the RSST before intervention, although no significant improvement was observed in individuals with a score equal to or higher than the standard value. 7 In the present study, persons with a lower value before intervention showed a tendency to improve, regardless of the standard value.…”

Effect of Swallowing Exercises in Independent Elderly

“…Minami et al 5) reported that oral functional rehabilitation implemented daily in a group of 116 elderly individuals admitted to a long-term care insurance facility yielded an increase in the RSST value, indicating an improvement in swallowing function in approximately 50% of these patients. Ibayashi et al 3) reported a significant improvement in RSST score following the performance of oral exercises for 3 months. Ooka et al 7) also reported that a training program conducted for 3 months yielded a clear improvement in oral function, particularly among elderly individuals with an RSST score of less than 3 times/30 sec at first measurement.…”

“…They can easily be performed anywhere, including at home and care centers for the elderly. Recently, it has been reported that oral care and oral functional rehabilitation in the elderly receiving nursing care facilitated improvement of eating and swallowing function 1,3,5,7,9,10) . However, little is known about the effects of swallowing exercises on oral function in independent elderly individuals with potential dysphagia.…”

Longitudinal Evaluation of Community Support Project to Improve Oral Function in Japanese Elderly

“…A number of studies have evaluated the Long-Term Care Prevention Project 7,8,15,18,19) , one of which noted that 'maintenance and improvement was recognized in 96.5% of high-risk elderly' after implementation of a program aimed at improving oral function 19) . Statistically significant improvements in swallowing, articulation, the ability to close the mouth, and tongue mobility were also reported 6,8,15,18) .…”