Purpose
This study investigates the effects of oral care interventions on oral health and oral health-related quality of life in denture-wearing older adults. Methods: A nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design was utilized. There were 26 participants in the experimental group and 30 in the control group. Participants were aged 65 or older, residing at long-term care facilities for more than six months, using dentures, able to brush their teeth, follow gymnastics without jaw joint problems, and cooperate in the measurement of bad breath. The oral care interventions consisted of brushing teeth, denture management, and mouth gymnastics and was performed three times/week, for 20 minutes/session, for a total of 4 weeks. The x 2 test, Fisher's exact test, repeated measures ANOVA, and independent t-test using SPSS/WIN 22.0 program were analyzed. Results: The performance of brushing teeth (F=27.66, p<.001), denture management (F=38.23, p<.001), and mouth gymnastics (F=5.12, p=.016) significantly increased with time up to the fourth week. After the interventions, significant differences were found between groups in subjective oral health status (t=5.87, p<.001), dry mouth (t=-9.24, p<.001), bad breath (t=-3.37, p<.001), and oral health-related quality of life (t=-6.46, p<.001). Conclusion: The oral care interventions, including a self-administered oral care checklist, can improve the motivation for oral care performance, oral health behaviors, oral health status, and oral health-related quality of life among older adults. Broader application of the intervention is warranted.

Citations

• Changes in concentration of VSCs after home oral care interventions based on community care in older adults
  
  Journal of Korean Society of Dental Hygiene.2023;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Effect of Oral Health Education Using a Mobile App (OHEMA) on the Oral Health and Swallowing-Related Quality of Life in Community-Based Integrated Care of the Elderly: A Randomized Clinical Trial
  Ji-Yun Ki, Se-Rim Jo, Kyung-Sook Cho, Jung-Eun Park, Ja-Won Cho, Jong-Hwa Jang
  International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.2021; 18(21): 11679.     CrossRef

PURPOSE
This study was designed to investigate whether there were differences among three oral care protocols on participants' oral health status (oral status, dry mouth, halitosis, saliva pH, microorganism growth in oral cavity) and tooth stain. The three protocols were: 1) oral solution of 4% normal saline, 2) 0.1% Chlorhexidine and 3) Tantum.
METHODS
A nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design was utilized. A total of 55 elderly patients residing at long-term care facilities(19 in the 4% normal saline group, 17 in the 0.1% Chlorhexidine group, 19 in the Tantum group) received oral care daily for four weeks. Data were analyzed using SPSS/WIN 22.0 program.
RESULTS
The halitosis (χ²=10.71, p=.005) and saliva pH (χ²=6.84, p=.033) scores were significantly improved after the oral care with 4% normal saline.
CONCLUSION
These findings indicate that if elderly patients in long-term care facilities have complaint of the discomfort of using Chlorhexidine or Tantum, 4% normal saline is as effective at the other two. This can also be cost effective as there were no differences among the protocols in oral status, dry mouth, tooth stain or microorganism growth in oral cavity.

Citations

• Antibacterial and Cytotoxic Evaluation of Lespedeza cuneata Extract Against Periodontal Pathogens and Human Gingival Cells: A Novel Option for Periodontal Therapy
  Hyo-Ju Yoon, Gyoo-Cheon Kim, Seoul-Hee Nam
  Applied Sciences.2024; 15(1): 190.     CrossRef
• The impact of aromatherapy-based oral care on oral conditions, salivary pH, and halitosis in older adults with dementia: Pilot study
  Ae Kyung Chang, Bo kyoung Kim, Ah Young Kim
  Geriatric Nursing.2023; 53: 109.     CrossRef
• Comparison of the effects of two oral cares on thirst and oral status following nasal surgery: Oral swab versus non-swab using cold water gauze
  Anna Gu, Mi Yu, Youngjin Kim, Suyeon Park, Kyunghee Baek, Taehee Kim
  The Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing Education.2022; 28(3): 317.     CrossRef