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. 2025 Mar 25.
doi: 10.1111/ger.12814. Online ahead of print.

The Effect of an Individually Tailored Oral Health Intervention on Dental Plaque and Caries Among Family Caregivers and Their Care Recipients

Salmi Annina  1   2 , Nykänen Irma  3 , Välimäki Tarja  4 , Koponen Sohvi  3 , Savela Roosa-Maria  4 , Schwab Ursula  3   5 , Suominen Anna Liisa  1   6
Affiliations

The Effect of an Individually Tailored Oral Health Intervention on Dental Plaque and Caries Among Family Caregivers and Their Care Recipients

Salmi Annina et al. Gerodontology. .

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of an individually tailored oral health intervention on the oral hygiene and health of family caregivers and their care recipients aged 60 years and older.

Background: Older adults are retaining their natural teeth longer. The compromised condition of teeth and oral health increases the risk of the deterioration of functional ability. Focused early intervention plays a significant role in preventing oral health problems in the future.

Materials and methods: This study was a six-months intervention study with a six-month follow-up and was part of the LENTO (Lifestyle, Nutrition and Oral health of caregivers) study. The sample consisted of family caregivers and their care recipients living in Eastern Finland. At baseline, the total sample comprised 239 (124 family caregivers and 115 care recipients) who were randomly allocated to either an intervention or a control group. In the intervention group, family caregivers received a tailored oral health intervention.

Results: The number of teeth with plaque decreased among family caregivers (β = -2.1, CI -4.0-(-1.2), p = 0.015) and their care recipients (β = -0.6, CI -0.0-(-2.1), p = 0.050). The number of teeth with caries decreased among family caregivers who participated in the intervention (β = -0.6, CI -1.1-(-0.1), p = 0.015), but not among their care recipients.

Conclusion: Our study shows that tailored information effectively promotes oral cleanliness among older adults. Furthermore, the number of teeth with caries decreased among family caregivers. It can therefore be recommended that such information and education on oral hygiene be implemented in healthcare systems in general. Furthermore, an interprofessional approach is necessary to promote better oral health in this vulnerable group of older adults.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04003493. Registered on June 28, 2019.

Keywords: family caregiver; older adults; oral health; plaque.

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