Oral Health Management by Dental Hygienists and Older Adults' Food Forms in Long‐Term Care Facilities: A 1‐Year Longitudinal Study

ABSTRACT Objective To date, no studies have directly investigated the association between oral health management (OHM) and food forms. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the association between OHM by dental hygienists and food forms in older adults admitted to long‐term care facilities (LTCFs). Background OHM involves oral health maintenance by dental hygienists and may prevent weight loss and pneumonia in older adults admitted to LTCFs. Materials and Methods Older adults in LTCFs in Japan ( n = 273) who participated in baseline (2018) and follow‐up (2019) surveys were evaluated. Basic characteristics, medical history, OHM status, oral maintenance management status, food forms, and oral conditions were investigated at baseline. After 1 year, a follow‐up survey was conducted only on food items. Furthermore, factors associated with the maintenance or improvement in food forms after 1 year were examined using binomial logistic regression analysis. Results Overall, 273 (69.2%) older adults in LTCFs required OHM by dental hygienists during the follow‐up year, of whom 142 (52.0%) received OHM and 88 maintained or improved their regular diet. The analyses revealed that the maintenance or improvement in food forms after 1 year was significantly associated with OHM implementation (odds ratio: 2.01, 95% confidence interval: 1.03–3.90). Conclusion OHM in older adults in Japanese LTCFs was associated with the maintenance or improvement in food forms, emphasising the importance of OHM for these individuals. OHM may also maintain or improve eating and swallowing functions, improving nutritional status.