Abstract
An oral health care program for improving oral function was started from 2006. The aim of the present study was to clarify the effectiveness of this program for improving the oral function as care prevention. We selected 55 subjects older than 65 years who participated in general health examinations and reported a poor oral status such as an impaired chewing function, feelings of suffocation while eating, and dry mouth. All subjects received oral hygiene instruction and oral function training four or six times over a period of three months. We compared the following variables at the baseline and 3 months later: oral hygiene status, oral functional status, and eating-related QOL (Quality of life). As a result, three months later, there was a significant improvement in the oral function status. In particular, the elapsed time on the repetitive saliva swallowing test (RSST) was 7.5±5.6, 16.2±9.7, and 25.7±14.7sec at the baseline, whereas, that at three months later was 5.6±3.1, 12.4±6.9, and 19.4±10.9sec. At three months later, there was a significant improvement in the elapsed time of the RSST on the second and third swallowing (p<0.01). These findings indicate that oral function training in elderly people improves feeding and swallowing functions. This effect, in turn, might improve the QOL of elderly.
