Epidemiology of oral health in older adults aged 65 or over: prevalence, risk factors and prevention.

Abstract

Oral diseases have emerged as one of the most prevalent non-communicable diseases (NCDs) worldwide, with a high global average prevalence of 45%, affecting an estimated 3.5 billion people globally. With the acceleration of global aging, oral health issues among the older adults have become increasingly prominent. According to the global multi-country epidemiological survey and the WHO report, the prevalence of oral diseases in the elderly aged 65 and above showed a significant increase, and the burden of disease was concentrated on dental caries, periodontal disease and tooth loss. This article synthesizes recent epidemiological data on the rising prevalence of oral health problems in older adults(aged ≥ 65), including inflammatory or non-inflammatory oral diseases, such as dental caries, periodontal disease, tooth loss, oral cancer, dry mouth and dysphagia, illustrates their multidirectional connections with systemic health, their risk factors and prevention, finally advocates for integrating oral health into holistic geriatric care frameworks.