Relationships between Desirable Oral Health Behaviors and Active Aging Status among Thai Older Persons, 2025

Abstract

This descriptive cross-sectional study aimed to examine relationships between desirable oral health behaviors and aging status among Thai elderly. The population consisted of 5,510 elderly individuals aged 60 years and older from 77 provinces nationwide. The sample size was determined using infinite population proportion, employing a multi-stage stratified random sampling method based on provincial, district, and sub-district levels. The data were collected using a questionnaire and analyzed using statistics including frequencies, percentages, means, standard deviations, chi-square tests, and multiple logistic regression.

Results showed that: 1) about 29.95% of the elderly exhibited all six dimensions of desirable oral health behaviors; 79.27% of the elderly ​were able to consistently perform self-care; 88.09% brushed their teeth before bed every day; 92.14% of the elderly had never smoked or had quit smoking or tobacco; and 95.95% of the elderly did not consume alcoholic beverages or only drank within one standard serving during festivals. Interestingly, appropriate behaviors regarding water intake and fruit and vegetable consumption were only 68.16% and 46.46%, respectively. 2) Gender, age, and education level were significantly correlated with desirable oral health behaviors (p<0.001). 3) Active aging was significantly correlated with desirable oral health behaviors (p<0.05). Elderly individuals with high levels of active aging in the health, social participation, and security and stability dimensions exhibited better desirable oral health behaviors than those with low levels of active aging in all three dimensions.