The Factors Affecting the Number of Remaining Teeth in the South Korean Elderly

The purpose of this study was to use the data from the eighth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES), 2019 to identify the factors affecting the number of remaining teeth in the South Korean elderly population aged ≥60. Data from a total of 1,388 respondents were analyzed. An IBM SPSS 66 program was used for weight estimation, followed by complex sample analysis. In terms of socio-demographic characteristics, the younger and the less educated the person, the larger the number of remaining teeth. The chronic disease of stroke led to fewer number of remaining teeth (B=-2.77, p=.035). In terms of health-risk behavior, smoking (B=-3.29, p=.001) led to fewer number of remaining teeth. In terms of oral health status and behavior, a higher level of subjective oral health status, a toothbrushing frequency of at least twice a day, and using dental floss (B=2.00, p=.002) and an interdental brush (B=3.20, p<.001) led to a significantly higher number of remaining teeth. Thus, the factors affecting the number of remaining teeth in the elderly population were education, a stroke event, smoking, subjective oral health status, toothbrushing frequency, and using dental floss and an interdental brush. Therefore, it is necessary to develop an oral health promotion program, taking the socio-demographic characteristics, presence of chronic diseases , and oral health behavior into account, to improve the quality of life and preserve the number of remaining teeth in the elderly population.