Year: 2024
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Introduction: Household food insecurity, defined as inconsistent access to sufficient food in a household, affects 1 in 15 individuals over the age of 60 years in the US. In these individuals it is associated with numerous chronic conditions, medication underuse leading to poorly controlled conditions such as diabetes and hypertension, and poor oral health. However, the relationship between food insecurity and oral health is understudied. We therefore evaluated the associations between food insecurity and aspects of oral health in older US adults. Methods: = 472). Results: Approximately 1 in 5 people in our study reported being food insecure in the last year. Food insecurity was correlated with poor oral health-related quality of life scores and more tooth loss. Individuals who were food insecure reported worse self-rated oral health (OR = 2.67), greater odds of losing 8 or more teeth (OR = 2.35), and lower odds of receiving oral care (OR = 0.60) compared to their food secure peers. Conclusions: Though individuals experiencing food insecurity were likely to have more unmet oral health needs than their peers, they were less likely to seek dental care. To improve the oral health status of this group, in addition to making oral health care more accessible, it may also be necessary to address the social and environmental factors preventing these people from seeking oral health care.
Source: Frontiers in Oral Health
Authors: Anwar T. Merchant, Afsaneh Fallahi, Arissa Huda, Matthew Lohman
Language: English
Subfield: Periodontics
Field: Dentistry
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,125
Funder: National Institute on Aging
Award: G7299324273
OpenAlex ID: W4403744691