Growing research suggests that tooth loss may be a warning sign of a higher risk of premature death, and recent findings indicate that the health of the remaining teeth also plays an important role.
Researchers from the University of Osaka in Japan analyzed medical and dental data from 190,282 adults aged 75 and older. Each tooth was classified as missing, healthy, filled, or decayed.
Their analysis found that healthy and filled teeth were similarly linked to a reduced risk of death, while having more missing or decayed teeth was associated with a higher mortality risk, supporting earlier studies.
Healthy and Filled Teeth Better Predict Mortality Risk
The researchers noted in their published study that the combined count of healthy and filled teeth was a stronger predictor of overall mortality than counting healthy teeth alone, or tallying healthy, filled, and decayed teeth together.
All-cause mortality refers to the risk of dying sooner than expected from any cause. Oral health is believed to be closely connected to general health, partly because of its role in inflammation.
How Tooth Decay and Loss Affect Longevity
Researchers suggest that decayed or missing teeth may cause long-term inflammation affecting the body. Tooth loss can also interfere with proper chewing, making it more difficult to maintain a balanced and nutritious diet.
The findings underscore the importance of dental care: Treating and restoring teeth may not only improve oral health but could also reduce the risk of dying prematurely.
The team notes that while tooth count predicts mortality, few studies examine how each tooth’s condition affects risk.
Oral Health, Socioeconomic Factors, and the Broader Impact of Oral Frailty
The researchers caution that their results may be affected by factors not captured in the data. For instance, limited access to dental care may be linked to lower socioeconomic status, which itself can influence life expectancy.
The findings are consistent with another recent study published in Geriatrics & Gerontology by researchers at the Institute of Science Tokyo, which took a broader look at oral frailty. This concept includes tooth loss, difficulties with chewing or swallowing, dry mouth, and speech problems.
The study of 11,080 adults found those with three or more issues were 1.23 times likelier to need long-term care and 1.34 times likelier to die. These results further suggest that maintaining good oral health can contribute to a longer and healthier life.
The University of Osaka team suggests future research should evaluate both the number and condition of teeth. Much remains unknown about why older adults with fewer teeth tend to face a higher risk of early death.
The authors conclude that the biological mechanisms linking decayed and filled teeth to overall mortality need to be explored more thoroughly through carefully designed long-term studies.
Read the original article on: Sciencealert
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