Behaviors Related to Teeth Loss in The Elderly, Khuangpao Sub-district, Chomthong District, Chiangmai Province

Abstract

This cross-sectional survey research aimed to investigate behaviors related to teeth loss evidence in 144 elderly in Khuangpao Sub-district, Chomthong District, Chiangmai Province. The study subjects were randomly sampled by a simple random method from 1,093 elderly in eleven villages. The method of data collection was an interview with a questionnaire and an evaluation form for dental loss ascribed by Eichner's index assessment. The scores were analyzed by the binary logistic regression model. The results showed that smoking, alcohol drinking, coffee drinking, and toothpicks using were significantly related to the teeth loss evidence. The elderly, who continued smoking and who had quitted smoking were 2.31 and 3.26 times, respectively, more teeth loss evidences than those who had never smoked. Persons who continued alcohol drinking and had ceased alcohol drinking were 1.15 and 4.19 times, respectively, more teeth loss evidences than those who had never consumed alcohol. Persons who continued coffee drinking were 88 times less teeth loss evidences than those who never had drunk coffee, and who stopped drinking coffee had 1.01 times more teeth loss evidences than those who never had drunk coffee. Lastly, persons who constantly behaved using toothpicks were 52 times less teeth loss evidence than those who had never used toothpicks, and the elderly who halted using toothpicks were 16.50 times more teeth loss evidences than those who had never used toothpicks. So far as the results indicated the behavioral factors had contributed to prevent teeth loss evidence among the elderly were non-smoking, non-alcohol drinking, coffee drinking and toothpicks for cleaning. This information can be appropriate behavioral data for further implementation of appropriate hygienic dental behavioral changes for the people.