Speakers - 2026

Title: Associated factors of dry mouth conditions in older adults in thailand

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the prevalence and associated factors of dry mouth among older Thai adults using secondary data from the 9th National Oral Health Survey (2023). A total of 5,842 individuals aged 60–74 years from 25 provinces were included. Descriptive statistics, linear regression model analysis, and path analysis were employed for data analysis. The findings indicated a moderate prevalence of dry mouth (11–25%). Female gender was significantly associated with dry mouth (OR=1.640, p=.006). Other significant factors included cardiovascular diseases, cerebrovascular diseases, cancer, and long-term smoking behavior (p=.048). Oral health conditions affected by dry mouth included root caries, tooth wear, higher Gingival index, and having less than 20 remaining teeth, which were also significantly associated with dry mouth (p<0.05). This study highlights the importance of oral screening for dry mouth in older people in a dwelling community from the primary care settings. It suggests the need for proactive oral health promotion strategies, especially for high-risk and older people with NCDs.

What will the audience take away from presentation:

The results of the regression analysis revealed that older women were significantly more likely to experience dry mouth than men (OR = 1.640, 95% CI: 1.149–2.340, p = 0.006). This finding is consistent with the Japanese study by Ikebe et al., which indicated that women tend to have reduced salivary secretion, particularly after menopause. Other factors, such as cardiovascular disease (OR = 0.335) and certain cancers (OR = 0.537), were also found to be significantly associated with dry mouth, which may be attributable to the side effects of medications used to treat chronic non-communicable diseases as well as the adverse effects of cancer treatments. In addition, inferential analysis using path analysis demonstrated that several factors were significantly associated with dry mouth, including gingival index (p = 0.021), tooth wear (p = 0.001), having fewer than 20 teeth (p = 0.018), body weight (p = 0.001), age (p = 0.016), and geographic region (p < 0.001). Notably, individuals aged 71–74 years and those residing in the northern region of Thailand were more likely to experience dry mouth. This is consistent with the findings of Tanaka et al., who reported that advancing age is associated with changes in salivary gland function that contribute to oral dryness, as well as coexisting conditions such as dental caries, root caries, and gingival recession. With regard to health behaviors, older adults with a history of smoking or who continued to smoke (p = 0.014) were significantly associated with dry mouth. This aligns with research from the United States, which found that long-term smoking reduces salivary flow rate and increases the risk of oral health problems related to dry mouth. Interestingly, this study revealed associations in the opposite direction. Taken together, these findings highlight the important interrelationship between oral health status and health behaviors among older adults.