Deteriorated oral health and function as risk factors for physical disability and mortality in community-dwelling older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the role of oral health or function-related factors in the development of physical disability and mortality in community-dwelling older individuals. Findings : Oral factors such as edentulism are significantly associated with both physical frailty and mortality. In addition, objective assessments of decreased swallowing function, oral frailty, having fewer than 20 teeth, and edentulism were strongly associated with mortality. Message: These findings highlight the importance of integrating oral health management, particularly masticatory function and dentition status, in geriatric care, emphasizing the need to integrate oral health management into strategies promoting healthy aging.