Objectives: The purpose of the study is to investigate the change of the salivary flow rate, xerostomia, and oral health-related quality of life in the elderly people after the application of oral massage.
Methods: The subjects were 101 elderly people at two senior welfare centers in Mokpo from November, 2012 to January, 2013 by the application of oral massage. The final subjects were 56 elderly people who participated in the massage more than 15 times of 20.
They were measured for saliva flow rate, xerostomia, and OHIP. On the first and the last day, a self-reported questionnaire was completed by the elderly people. The questionnaire consisted of general characteristics of the subjects, oral health related knowledge, symptoms and behavior of xerostomia, and OHIP. OHIP included functional limitation, physical pain, psychological discomfort, physical disability, psychological disability, social disability, and handicap, and was measured by Likert 5 point scale.
Results: The salivary flow rate of the elderly people increased after the implementation of the program. There was a significant improvement in xerostomia, functional limitation, physical pain, psychological discomfort, and social efficacy (p<0.001).
Conclusions : The oral massage program enhanced the oral function of the elderly people, and had an influence on the improvement of oral health-related quality of life.