Study Links Diet Texture to Denture Health in Long-Term Care Residents
A new study published in Clinical interventions in Aging reveals a notable association between the texture of food consumed and both denture wearing and denture quality among older adults in long-term care facilities. Researchers found that residents requiring softer food textures were less likely to wear dentures and, if they did, their dentures were more frequently enough reported as being in poor condition.
The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh, examined data from 228 residents across six skilled nursing facilities. Participants were categorized based on their dietary texture needs – regular, mechanical altered (soft/minced), or pureed. The research team assessed denture wearing status and denture quality through clinical oral examinations and chart reviews.
Results indicated that 45.2% of residents on a regular diet wore dentures, compared to 28.3% on a mechanical altered diet and only 11.1% on a pureed diet (p < 0.001). Furthermore, among denture wearers, 38.2% of those on a regular diet had dentures in good condition, versus 23.1% on a mechanical altered diet and 10.0% on a pureed diet (p = 0.02).
“These findings suggest that as dietary texture becomes more restricted, denture use declines and the condition of existing dentures deteriorates,” explained Dr. Anne B. Newman, lead author of the study and Professor of Medicine at the university of Pittsburgh. “This highlights the importance of considering oral health needs when developing dietary plans for institutionalized older adults.”
The study underscores the potential for a cycle where difficulty chewing leads to softer diets, which in turn contributes to reduced stimulation of the jawbone and gums, perhaps accelerating denture deterioration and ultimately leading to denture abandonment. Researchers suggest interventions such as regular dental check-ups, denture maintenance education, and exploring strategies to safely incorporate more textured foods into the diets of long-term care residents could improve oral health outcomes. the research was supported by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR).
