Effect of periodontal therapy on glycaemic control in type 2 diabetes.

AIM: This study aimed to elucidate the impact of periodontal therapy on glycaemic control in individuals with type 2 diabetes and various baseline blood glucose levels using a large-scale claims database from Japan. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using the JMDC Claims Database, we identified individuals with type 2 diabetes who underwent health check-ups in the fiscal years 2018 or 2019 and were followed up until the next year's health check-up. We conducted a weighted cohort analysis using stabilized inverse probability weights for treatment and censoring to estimate the effect of periodontal therapy on changes in haemoglobin A1c levels within a year. Analysis was done for different baseline haemoglobin A1c categories: 6.5%-6.9%, 7.0%-7.9% and ≥8.0%. RESULTS: Of the 4279 insured persons included in the study, 957 received periodontal therapy. Overall, there was a tendency towards improved glycaemic control among those who received periodontal therapy. Participants with baseline haemoglobin A1c levels of 7.0%-7.9% who received periodontal therapy exhibited significantly better glycaemic control compared with those without dental visits (difference; -0.094 [95% confidence interval: -0.181 to -0.007]). CONCLUSIONS: Periodontal therapy may improve glycaemic control in individuals with diabetes, especially in those with haemoglobin A1c levels ≥7.0%.

Trends in prophylactic antibiotic use for tooth extraction from 2015 to 2018 in Japan: An analysis using a health insurance claims database.

INTRODUCTION: To describe patterns in antibiotic prophylaxis for tooth extraction following the 2016 Japanese National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance. METHODS: Using a health insurance claims database, we retrospectively identified tooth extraction visits by patients aged ≥18 years from September 2015 to August 2018 and classified patients as undergoing extraction of a fully impacted or horizontally impacted mandibular wisdom tooth, being at risk of infective endocarditis or surgical site infection, or being at low risk. Antibiotic use and type of antibiotics prescribed on the day of tooth extraction were evaluated across the study period, with stratification by tooth extraction category and facility type (hospital or dental clinic). RESULTS: We identified 662,435 patients with tooth extraction. The mean age was 42.7 years, and 57% were male. Twelve percent underwent wisdom tooth extraction, 32% were high risk, and 10% visited hospitals. The proportion of antibiotic use was 83% overall and 82% among low-risk patients. This proportion remained similar throughout the study period. A shift from third-generation cephalosporins to amoxicillin was observed from 2015 to 2018: the proportion prescribed third-generation cephalosporins decreased from 58% to 34% in hospitals and from 57% to 56% in clinics, and the proportion prescribed amoxicillin increased from 16% to 37% in hospitals and from 6% to 10% in clinics. CONCLUSIONS: The pattern of prophylactic antibiotic use for tooth extraction gradually changed after the initiation of the National Action Plan. Further efforts are required to reduce potentially inappropriate prescriptions for low-risk patients, especially in dental clinics.

Amoxicillin vs third-generation cephalosporin for infection prophylaxis after third molar extraction.

OBJECTIVES: Although amoxicillin is the first-line prophylactic drug for impacted mandibular third molar extraction, third-generation cephalosporins are widely prescribed in Japan. The lack of real-world evidence may be one reason for this inappropriate use. We evaluated differences in the incidence of surgical site infection between amoxicillin and third-generation cephalosporins for impacted mandibular third molar extraction. METHODS: Using the JMDC Claims Database, we identified dental visits with fully or horizontally impacted mandibular third molar extraction from April 2015 to March 2020. One-to-one propensity-score matching was conducted between amoxicillin and third-generation cephalosporin groups. The incidence of surgical site infection following extraction was compared in the matched pairs using McNemar's test. RESULTS: We identified 109,266 dental visits, including 39,514 (36.2%) patients who received amoxicillin and 69,752 (63.8%) patients who received third-generation cephalosporins. In the 39,514 matched pairs, the incidence of surgical site infection was 3.5% (n = 1399) for amoxicillin group and 3.7% (n = 1467) for third-generation cephalosporin group (p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Amoxicillin was associated with a lower incidence of surgical site infection after impacted mandibular third molar extraction compared with third-generation cephalosporins. This result supports current guidelines and strengthens the importance of disseminating and implementing antimicrobial resistance control in dentistry.

A 5-year longitudinal association between dietary fermented soya bean (natto) intake and tooth loss through bone mineral density in postmenopausal women: The Yokogoshi cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: In this 5-year cohort study, we aimed to determine whether the intake of natto, a fermented soya bean food product, has an indirect effect on tooth loss incidence through BMD changes among postmenopausal women. BACKGROUND: Evidence indicates (1) that natto has a beneficial effect on bone health and (2) that a decrease in bone mineral density (BMD) is associated with tooth loss. METHODS: The study recruited 435 postmenopausal women (average age = 64.2 years). Natto intake (exposure) was assessed at baseline using a food frequency questionnaire. Lumbar spine BMD and number of teeth were measured at baseline and 5-year follow-up. BMD change (mediator) and the number of teeth lost (outcome) over time were calculated. The mediation model consisted of these 3 variables. Mediation analysis was performed to test the indirect effect of the natto intake measured through BMD change on tooth loss. RESULTS: During the study, the mean number of teeth lost was 1.2 (standard deviation = 1.8), and the mean BMD decline was 2.5% (standard deviation = 7.1). After adjusting for potential confounders, increasing habitual natto intake was significantly indirectly associated with a lower incidence of tooth loss mediated by BMD change (incidence rate ratio of tooth loss among women with "≥1 pack/day" natto intake was 0.90 [95% confidence interval = 0.82-0.99] compared to those with natto consumption of "rarely"). CONCLUSIONS: Dietary natto intake is significantly indirectly associated with a lower incidence of tooth loss among postmenopausal women, and systemic bone density could be a mediator of this association.

Effect of lifestyle on 6-year periodontitis incidence or progression and tooth loss in older adults.

AIM: To evaluate the longitudinal association of combined healthy lifestyle factors with incidence or progression of periodontitis and tooth loss in older adults. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This 6-year study included 374 Japanese 70-year olds with 7,157 teeth, from a source eligible baseline population of 554 individuals. Four lifestyle factors-cigarette smoking, physical activity, relative weight, and dietary quality-were scored as healthy (1 point) or unhealthy (0 point). Adding the individual scores generated the "healthy lifestyle score" (0-4 points). Multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression models were applied to evaluate tooth-specific associations between the baseline healthy lifestyle score and the incidence or progression of periodontitis (increase in clinical attachment loss ≥3 mm) and tooth loss. RESULTS: After 6 years, 19.0% of the teeth exhibited periodontitis incidence or progression and 8.2% were lost. Compared with a healthy lifestyle score of 0-1 (least healthy), the highest score (4 points) was associated with a significantly lower tooth-specific risk of periodontitis (adjusted odds ratio = 0.32; 95% confidence interval: 0.16-0.62) and tooth loss (adjusted odds ratio = 0.42; 95% confidence interval: 0.23-0.77). CONCLUSIONS: Simultaneous adherence to multiple healthy lifestyle factors significantly lowers the risk of incidence or progression of periodontitis and tooth loss in older adults.

Hyposalivation and 10-year all-cause mortality in an elderly Japanese population.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association of salivary flow rate with all-cause mortality among older Japanese adults. We hypothesised that hyposalivation would be a marker for mortality. BACKGROUND: Hyposalivation, which is an objectively measurable decrease in salivary flow, is highly prevalent among older adults. It is associated with malnutrition and poor general health. METHODS: The study population comprised 600 community-dwelling Japanese adults (306 men and 294 women), who were 70 years old at baseline. They underwent stimulated salivary flow rate (SSFR) measurements and were followed up during a 10-year study period. After stratification by sex, the hazard ratios of all-cause mortality were estimated using Cox proportional hazards regression analysis comparing groups with and without hyposalivation (ie, SSFR < 0.7 mL/min). RESULTS: The baseline prevalence of hyposalivation was 27.8% (85/306) among men and 47.3% (139/294) among women. During a mean (standard deviation) follow-up period of 104 (27) months, 80 deaths occurred: 60 (75.0%) deaths among men and 20 (25.0%) deaths among women. After adjusting for the number of remaining teeth, smoking status, exercise, hypoalbuminemia, diabetes and cardiovascular disease, hyposalivation at baseline was significantly associated with all-cause mortality among men (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.71; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-2.89). In contrast, no association between SSFR and all-cause mortality existed among women. CONCLUSION: Hyposalivation could be a marker for all-cause mortality among older community-dwelling Japanese men. Future studies investigating the association between SSFR and cause-specific mortality are warranted.

Cystatin C-based estimated glomerular filtration rate and periodontitis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Accumulating evidence suggests that decreased kidney function characterised by low estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) may be associated with periodontitis. Recent studies have suggested that the use of cystatin C strengthens the association between the eGFR and the risks of adverse outcomes in decreased kidney function. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the association of cystatin C-based eGFR (eGFRcys) and creatinine-based eGFR (eGFRcreat), the commonly used method to assess kidney function, with periodontitis in 502 Japanese women (average age, 68.6 years). MATERIALS AND METHODS: GFR was estimated from serum cystatin C and serum creatinine, respectively, using the Japanese equation for GFR. Participants were classified into five groups according to their eGFRcys and eGFRcreat values. Poisson regression models with robust error variance assessed the associations of eGFRcys and eGFRcreat with periodontitis. Tests for trends were performed by fitting the five-category eGFR variables in their continuous form to the regression models. RESULTS: Participants with eGFRcys < 50 ml/min/1.73 m(2) were at significantly higher risk of periodontitis compared with the reference group (≥90 ml/min/1.73 m(2) ) (adjusted relative risk = 2.12, 95% confidence interval = 1.12 to 4.02). Additionally, there was a trend towards a higher risk of periodontitis among participants with lower eGFRcys values (p for trend in the multivariable model = 0.008). In contrast, eGFRcreat did not show a significant association with periodontitis. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study of Japanese older women showed that eGFRcys had a stronger and more linear association with periodontitis than eGFRcreat.

Serum antibody to Porphyromonas gingivalis in metabolic syndrome among an older Japanese population.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Potentially significant associations between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and periodontal disease have been reported in recent studies; however, there is a dearth of literature regarding the relationship of MetS with serum antibody levels to periodontal pathogens. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the association between MetS and serum antibody to the periodontal pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) in 216 Japanese individuals aged 79 years. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Serum antibody levels to P. gingivalis were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. An elevated serum antibody response was defined as the upper quartile and was considered as the outcome variable. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to evaluate the association of MetS defined by the modified National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III criteria with an elevated antibody status. Adjustments for gender, income, education, smoking status, dental-care utilisation patterns and brushing frequency were considered. RESULTS: The prevalence of MetS was 22.2% (n = 48). Study participants with MetS were 2.9 times more likely to have an elevated serum antibody to P. gingivalis (adjusted odds ratio = 2.91, 95% confidence interval = 1.24-6.85) after simultaneous adjustment for other covariates. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest an independent relationship between MetS and serum antibody levels to P. gingivalis in the Japanese elderly. Additional longitudinal epidemiologic studies with larger, more diversified samples and more complete information are needed to substantiate our findings.

Dietary inflammatory index and number of functional teeth in middle-aged and older Japanese adults: A cross-sectional study using national survey data.

PURPOSE: To determine whether the number of functional teeth, including the remaining natural teeth and prosthetically restored missing teeth, is associated with the dietary inflammatory index (DII), a quantitative measure of the inflammatory potential of the overall diet, in middle-aged and older Japanese adults. METHODS: National survey data from a non-institutionalized Japanese population aged ≥45 years was analyzed. Multivariable linear regression analyses were performed to assess the association between the DII score, which was calculated based on dietary records, and the number of functional teeth, which was determined during dental examination. All regression analyses were stratified according to the age groups 45-64, 65-74, and ≥75 years. The association between functional tooth units (FTUs) and the DII was assessed using sensitivity analysis. RESULTS: In total, 2407 individuals (1053 men and 1354 women; mean age = 66.7 years) were included. Multivariable analysis revealed that the number of functional teeth was significantly inversely associated with the DII score among participants aged ≥75 years (regression coefficient per increase of one in the number of functional teeth = -0.050; 95% confidence interval = -0.089 to -0.010). The number of functional teeth was not associated with the DII score in younger age categories (i.e., those aged 45-74 years). As in the primary analysis, the number of FTUs was significantly inversely associated with the DII score only in the group aged ≥75 years. CONCLUSIONS: A greater number of functional teeth was associated with a lower DII (i.e., diet with greater anti-inflammatory potential) in Japanese adults aged ≥75 years.

Effect of chronic kidney disease on progression of clinical attachment loss in older adults: A 4-year cohort study.

BACKGROUND: People with chronic kidney disease (CKD) may have an increased risk of periodontal disease, but longitudinal evidence is sparse. METHODS: This 4-year cohort study assessed the association between CKD and changes in periodontal health status, defined by attachment loss (AL) progression, among older adults. Participants were 388 community-dwelling Japanese adults who were 70 years old at baseline with 7053 teeth. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was calculated by using baseline serum creatinine concentration. AL at six sites for every tooth was recorded at baseline and follow-up examinations. Multilevel logistic regression models estimated the tooth-specific risk of AL progression (≥1 site exhibiting a ≥3 mm increase in AL) with baseline CKD (eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 ) as the principal exposure. RESULTS: At baseline, 27.8% of the study population (108/388 participants) had CKD. After 4 years, 21.8% of the studied teeth (1537/7053 teeth) exhibited AL progression. After applying inverse probability weighting and adjusting for potential confounders, including sex, use of devices for interdental cleaning, smoking, diabetes, tooth location, abutment for a removable denture, and highest AL, CKD was associated with significantly higher odds of AL progression (adjusted odds ratio: 1.73; 95% confidence interval: 1.15-2.60). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that CKD increases the risk of periodontal disease progression in older community-dwelling Japanese adults. Additional studies with more complete information, as well as in other geographic areas and age groups, are necessary to further generalize the findings.

Dentition status and frailty in community-dwelling older adults: A 5-year prospective cohort study.

AIM: To examine the longitudinal association between dentition status and incidence of frailty in older adults. METHODS: The present prospective cohort study included community-dwelling Japanese adults aged 75 years at baseline (n = 322). Dental examinations, biochemical blood examinations, physical performance and anthropometric measurements, and structured questionnaires were carried out at baseline. The presence of ≥20 teeth with nine or more occluding pairs of teeth was defined as functional dentition. Annual follow-up examinations, including physical performance, anthropometric measurements and structured questionnaires, were carried out over a 5-year period to determine the incidence of frailty, defined as three or more of the following five components derived from the Cardiovascular Health Study: weight loss, weakness, slowness, poor energy and low physical activity level. Adjusted hazard ratios of frailty incidence according to dentition status were calculated from Cox proportional hazards regression analyses. RESULTS: At baseline, 118 participants (36.6%) were defined as having functional dentition. During the follow up, 48 participants (14.9%) developed frailty. The adjusted hazard ratio for frailty in participants with functional dentition was 0.50 (95% confidence interval 0.25-0.98) compared with participants without functional dentition, after adjusting for sex, income, education, smoking status, body mass index, serum biomarkers and comorbidities. CONCLUSIONS: Functional dentition was significantly associated with a lower risk of frailty defined by the Cardiovascular Health Study frailty index in older Japanese adults. These results suggest that maintaining healthy and functional dentition into later life is important for frailty prevention. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2018; 18: 256-262.

Association between tooth loss and medical costs related to stroke in healthy older adults aged over 75 years in Japan.

AIM: Growing evidence suggests that tooth loss is associated with increased risk of stroke. In the current study, we investigated cumulative medical costs related to stroke using data from the Advanced Elderly Medical Service System. We hypothesized that tooth loss was associated with an increase in medical costs related to stroke among older Japanese adults. METHODS: A total of 273 Japanese adults aged 80 years were enrolled in the current study. Baseline medical and dental examinations were carried out in June 2008. Medical care use and costs were monitored by linkage with National Health Insurance claim files from baseline to the end of February 2011. Medical costs related to stroke per month were calculated and examined for any association with the baseline number of remaining teeth using a linear regression model with robust standard errors. RESULTS: A total of 19 individuals were admitted to hospital for stroke during the follow-up period. A significant negative association was found between the number of teeth and medical costs related to stroke per month. The regression coefficients of the number of teeth in relation to medical costs related to stroke was -248 (95% CI -438 to -58, P = 0.011) in the crude model and -226 (95% CI -413 to -38, P = 0.018) after adjusting for other confounders. CONCLUSION: Within the limitations of the present study, the reported findings suggest an independent relationship of tooth loss with increase in medical cost related to stroke among older Japanese adults. Further studies are necessary to substantiate these findings. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2017; 17: 202-210.

Association between periodontitis and medical expenditure in older adults: A 33-month follow-up study.

AIM: Along with rapid aging, medical expenditure for older adults has been increasing in Japan. Research has shown that periodontitis is a useful predictor for excess medical expenditure; however, limited information is available on the elderly population after adequately considering confounding factors. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the association between periodontitis and long-term medical expenditure in elderly Japanese. METHODS: Baseline health and periodontal examinations were carried out in June 2008. Japanese adults (n = 245) aged 80 years were classified into quartiles based on periodontal inflamed surface area (PISA), which quantifies the degree of periodontal inflammation. Medical care use and costs were monitored by assessment of the National Health Insurance claim files from the baseline survey through the end of February 2011. Multivariable analysis of the differences in medical expenditure among PISA quartiles was carried out using linear regression with robust standard errors. RESULTS: The participants in the fourth (with the largest PISA) and third quartiles had significantly higher inpatient medical expenditure compared with those of the first quartile (P < 0.01 and = 0.04, respectively). Participants in the fourth quartile had significantly higher total medical expenditure (P < 0.01) compared with the first quartile. A trend was observed of higher inpatient and total medical expenditure with increasing PISA. CONCLUSIONS: A significant association was found between periodontitis and future increase in medical expenditure, suggesting that periodontitis might be a modifiable factor for the reduction of excess medical expenditure among elderly Japanese. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2016; 16: 856-864.

Hyposalivation and dietary nutrient intake among community-based older Japanese.

AIM: Saliva is important for maintaining oral function and regulating oral health. Reduced saliva flow rate, which is common among older adults, has been reported to be associated with perceived chewing and swallowing difficulties; however, its relationship to actual nutrient intake is unclear. The aim of the present cross-sectional study was to evaluate the relationship between hyposalivation and nutrient intake among older Japanese adults. METHODS: The participants were 352 community-based Japanese aged 80 years. A stimulated salivary flow rate <0.5 mL/min was defined as hyposalivation. Multivariable analysis of differences in nutrient and food intake outcome variables, which were collected through a validated food frequency questionnaire, between groups with/without hyposalivation was carried out using general linear models. Models included adjustment for number of teeth, denture use, sex, income, education, body mass index, smoking status, alcohol use, diabetes, medication, activities of daily living, depression and total calorie intake. RESULTS: The hyposalivation group had significantly lower intake of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid, potassium, vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin B6 and folate than the group without hyposalivation (P < 0.05) after adjusting for confounders. Vegetable, fish and shellfish consumption was significantly lower in the hyposalivation group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Dietary intake was poorer in those with hyposalivation than among those without. A decrease in stimulated salivary flow rate could have negative effects on geriatric nutrition.

Longitudinal relationship between metabolic syndrome and periodontal disease among Japanese adults aged ≥70 years: the Niigata Study.

BACKGROUND: There has been little evaluation in longitudinal epidemiologic studies of the effect of metabolic syndrome (MetS) on periodontal status. The specific aim of this longitudinal study is to investigate whether MetS in the Japanese population could be a risk factor for periodontal disease. METHODS: A total of 125 older adults from Japan for whom data were available for the years 2003 to 2006 were selected for the current study. Full-mouth periodontal status, measured as clinical attachment level (CAL), was recorded at baseline and in follow-up examinations. Development of periodontal disease was considered to be ≥2 teeth demonstrating a longitudinal loss of proximal attachment of ≥3 mm at the follow-up dental examination. A multivariable Poisson regression model with robust error variance was used to evaluate the association of MetS defined by the modified National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III criteria with development of periodontal disease. Adjustments for sex, income, education, smoking status, number of teeth at baseline, mean CAL at baseline, pattern of visits to a dentist, and brushing frequency were considered. RESULTS: The prevalence of MetS was 21.6% (27/125). Study participants with MetS were approximately 2.6 times more likely to develop periodontal disease (adjusted relative risk 2.58, 95% confidence interval 1.17 to 5.67) after simultaneous adjustment for other covariates. CONCLUSIONS: These findings support the hypothesis that MetS may be a risk factor for periodontal disease in older Japanese individuals. Additional studies with larger, more diverse populations and more complete information are needed to substantiate the findings.

Oral health status in relation to cognitive function among older Japanese.

Epidemiologic data examining the relationship between oral health status and cognitive status are sparse, especially in Asian populations. This study aimed to assess whether periodontal disease and tooth loss were related to cognitive impairment among older Japanese. Study participants were 291 Japanese (101 men and 190 women, average age: 80.9 years), classified into three groups based on a clinical examination of oral health status: no periodontal disease, periodontal disease, and edentulous. Periodontal disease was defined using criteria recommended in the consensus report of the European Workshop in Periodontology with a modification. Cognitive impairment was defined using the results of the Mini-mental State Examination (MMSE) and Hasegawa Dementia Scale-Revised (HDS-R) scores. Multivariable logistic regression analyses assessed the relationship of the three-category oral health status variable (reference category = no periodontal disease) with low MMSE score (≤23) and low HDS-R score (≤20). Age, gender, years of education, body mass index, smoking status, drinking behavior, and history of cardiovascular disease were tested as potential confounders in the multivariable models. Periodontal disease and edentulous were significantly associated with greater odds of low cognitive performance after controlling for potential confounders. The multivariable adjusted odds ratios (ORs) (95% confidence intervals [CIs]) for low MMSE score associated with periodontal disease and edentulous were 2.21 (1.01-4.84) and 2.28 (1.06-4.90), respectively. The multivariable adjusted ORs (95% CIs) for low HDS-R score associated with periodontal disease and edentulous were 4.85 (1.29-18.15) and 3.86 (1.05-14.20), respectively. Poor oral health status was significantly associated with cognitive impairment among community-dwelling older Japanese. Additional well-controlled longitudinal studies are needed to elucidate whether there may be a possible cause-and-effect relationship between oral health status and cognitive function.

Oral health status: relationship to nutrient and food intake among 80-year-old Japanese adults.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the relationship of oral health status defined on the basis of presence of posterior occluding pairs (POPs) and adequacy of removable denture fit as determined by self-report to nutrient and food intake among older Japanese. METHODS: The subjects were 353 Japanese aged 80 years in 2008 and were classified into four groups according to the number of POPs, defined as pairs of occluding natural, restored, or fixed prosthetic postcanine teeth (range: 0-8) and removable denture status. The groups were: (i) good dentition (n = 56; 8 POPs and no removable prosthesis), (ii) well-fitting dentures (n = 158; <8 POPs with self-reported good-fitting dentures), (iii) ill-fitting dentures (n = 70; <8 POPs with self-reported ill-fitting dentures), and (iv) compromised dentition (n = 69; <8 POPs and no removable prosthesis). Multivariable analysis of the differences in nutrient and food intake outcome variables which were collected via validated food frequency questionnaire among the four oral health status groups was conducted using general linear models. Results: Intake of multiple nutrients was significantly (P < 0.05) lower in the group with ill-fitting dentures or compromised dentition than in the good dentition group. Vegetable, fish, and shellfish consumption was significantly lower in the ill-fitting dentures or compromised dentition groups. No significant differences were seen in dietary intake between the well-fitting dentures and good dentition groups. Conclusions: Dietary intake was poorer in those with self-perceived ill-fitting dentures or fewer POPs than among those having all POPs. Regular dental care to maintain intact dentition, as well as dental treatment to replace missing teeth and ensure adequate denture fit and function, may be important to the diet intake and subsequent nutritional status of older Japanese.