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Health Behaviors and Self-Reported Oral Health among Centenarians in Nanjing, China: A Cross-Sectional Study

Author

Listed:
  • Xin Xu

    (Population Research Institute, Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Nanjing 210042, China)

  • Yuan Zhao

    (Population Research Institute, Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Nanjing 210042, China
    Ginling College, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China)

  • Danan Gu

    (Independent Researcher, New York, NY 10010, USA)

  • Yaolin Pei

    (Rory Meyers College of Nursing, New York University, New York, NY 10010, USA)

  • Bei Wu

    (Rory Meyers College of Nursing, New York University, New York, NY 10010, USA)

Abstract

The role of health behaviors in oral health conditions in individuals of extremely old age remains understudied. This study included 185 participants aged 100 years or older from the Nanjing Centenarians Study (NCS) to examine the associations between health behaviors and oral health and investigate the potential moderating role of education and living arrangements in such relationships. The oral health status as an outcome included the self-reported oral health status and edentulous status. Health behavior variables included smoking, eating fruits, eating vegetables, participating in leisure activities, and practicing oral hygiene behaviors. Sociodemographic characteristics and health status were considered as confounders. Descriptive statistics, ordinal regression, and logistic regression models were used to address the research questions. Results showed that better oral health was reported by centenarians who were non-smokers, participated in more leisure activities, and practiced higher frequency of oral hygiene behaviors. Those who ate fruits daily and practiced more frequently oral hygiene behaviors were more likely to be dentate. The positive association of oral hygiene behaviors was stronger for centenarians who were formally educated and co-resided with family members. The results suggest that effective interventions should consider health behaviors and living arrangements in this growing population to improve their oral health status.

Suggested Citation

  • Xin Xu & Yuan Zhao & Danan Gu & Yaolin Pei & Bei Wu, 2021. "Health Behaviors and Self-Reported Oral Health among Centenarians in Nanjing, China: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(14), pages 1-13, July.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:14:p:7285-:d:590260
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Xiaomin Qu & Xiang Qi & Bei Wu, 2020. "Disparities in Dental Service Utilization among Adults in Chinese Megacities: Do Health Insurance and City of Residence Matter?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-13, September.
    2. Rodrigo Mariño & Mike Morgan & Asuman Kiyak & Eli Schwarz & Syed Naqvi, 2012. "Oral health in a convenience sample of Chinese older adults living in Melbourne, Australia," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 57(2), pages 383-390, April.
    3. Gorsuch, M.M. & Sanders, S.G. & Wu, B., 2014. "Tooth loss in appalachia and the mississippi delta relative to other regions in the united states 1999-2010," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 104(5), pages 85-91.
    4. Michel Poulain & Anne Herm, 2016. "Centenarians’ Marital History and Living Arrangements: Pathways to Extreme Longevity," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 71(4), pages 724-733.
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    Cited by:

    1. Chun-Wang Wei & Hao-Yun Kao & Wen-Hsiung Wu & Chien-Yu Chen & Hsin-Pin Fu, 2021. "The Influence of Robot-Assisted Learning System on Health Literacy and Learning Perception," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-15, October.

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