Lifestyles associated with complete tooth loss in elderly people in Brazil, 2019.

Objective: This study aimed to assess types of lifestyle that may contribute to total tooth loss in the elderly.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional and population-based study, having as its target population elderly individuals aged 60 years or older. We used the database of the most recent edition of the National Health Survey, conducted in Brazil in 2019. Initially, the chi-square test was used and then the prevalence ratios were adjusted using the Poisson multiple regression model in order to identify associations between the variables.

Results: The final sample analyzed consisted of 22,728 elderly individuals. Prevalence of complete tooth loss was 31.7% (95% confidence interval [95%CI] 31.1; 32.3). Multivariate analysis revealed that this condition was higher in females (p-value<0.001; prevalence ratio [PR] 1.05; 95%CI 1.04; 1.07), in the oldest old (p-value<0.001; PR 1.54; 95%CI 1.43; 1.61), in those without formal education (p-value<0.001; PR 1.06; 95%CI 1.04; 1.08), in those without dental insurance (p-value<0.001; PR 1.07; 95%CI 1.05; 1.09), in smokers (p-value<0.001; PR 1.04; 95%CI 1.02; 1.06), in individuals who consume soft drinks with high sugar content (p-value<0.001; PR 1.05; 95%CI 1.03; 1.07) and in those who do not do physical activities (p-value<0.001; PR 1.05; 95%CI 1.03; 1.06).

Conclusion: We concluded that complete tooth loss was greater in elderly people with unfavorable socioeconomic conditions, those who smoke, those who consume soft drinks with high sugar content and those who do not do physical activities regularly.