2025, Vol.25, No.4

Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene 2025 KCI Impact Factor : 1.22

pISSN : 2287-1705 / eISSN : 2288-2294
https://journal.kci.go.kr/jksdh

Objectives: This study aimed to identify the key characteristics of intervention studies designed to improve oral function in older adults and examine the differences in interventional approaches and evaluation tools across academic disciplines. Methods: A scoping review was conducted following the framework proposed by Arksey and O’Malley, and later refined by Levac et al. Studies published until January 2024 were searched in four Korean academic databases (DBpia, KISS, KISTI, and KMBASE). A total of 24 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included. Data concerning the participants, settings, intervention methods, and evaluation tools were charted. Results: In the field of dental hygiene, the interventions mainly targeted communitydwelling older adults and comprised oral exercises involving mouth and tongue movements. They were typically evaluated using the repetitive saliva swallowing test and self-administered questionnaires. In contrast, occupational therapy studies have focused primarily on hospitalized stroke patients, implementing tongue-strengthening exercises and rehabilitation devices, and predominantly employed quantitative and physiologically based assessment tools. Conclusions: Distinct variations in the intervention approaches and evaluation tools were observed across academic disciplines. These findings underscore the need for developing standardized multidisciplinary intervention models and integrated programs applicable to diverse older adult populations.

Objectives: The aim of this was to evaluate the effects of an oral myofunctional exercise program on improving oral function in older adults who use welfare tubes. Methods: We recruited 37 older adults who had used the Gyeongbuk Community Welfare Center for approximately four months between June and October 2022. The control group completed a questionnaire and an objective oral myofunction assessment, whereas the experimental group participated in an oral myofunction exercise program. The program was conducted twice weekly for 8 weeks at a community center. Objective oral health assessments were performed in both groups before, during, and after, 4 and 8 weeks after the start of the intervention period. Results: As a result of the oral myofunctional exercise program, a comparison of the subjects bite force (p=0.008), tongue pressure (p=0.003), maximum mouth opening (p<0.001), and alternating Diadochokinesis (DDK) (p<0.001) showed that the experimental group had greater improvements than the control group. Conclusions: Based on these findings, oral myofunctional exercise-such as chewing silicone straws and playing harmonica-should be incorporated into the existing oral health programs in public health centers and welfare facilities for older adults.

Objectives: Anti-inflammatory dietary patterns and their association with tooth loss remain underexplored, despite extensive research on diet and chronic disease. This study aimed to investigate the association between dietary inflammatory potential and tooth loss due to dental disease. Methods: Data from the 2015-2016 and 2017-March 2020 waves of the United States National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were analyzed. A total of 3,828 adults aged ≥20 years who underwent oral examinations and provided two days of dietary recall data for the calculation of the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII), which is a measure of dietary inflammatory potential, were included. Lower DII scores indicate adherence to an anti-inflammatory dietary pattern. Multivariable linear and negative binomial regression models were used for the analyses. Results: Compared with individuals in the lowest DII quintile (indicative of an anti-inflammatory diet), those in the highest quintile (pro-inflammatory diet) exhibited a significantly higher mean ratio (MR) of teeth lost: 1.387 (95% CI: 1.128-1.705). This trend was consistently observed in both the 40–59 and ≥60 years age groups. Conclusions: This study found a significant inverse association between anti-inflammatory dietary intake and tooth loss. Targeted dietary counseling and preventive education are essential for reducing the risk of tooth loss in individuals with high consumption of pro-inflammatory nutrients.