Teeth or chewing and QOL

: Chewing or teeth number was evaluated with quality of life (QOL), activities of daily livings (ADL), physical fitness, cognitive function, ECG findings and mortality in elderly populations. Chewing examined by numbers of foods that a subject could chew was related with satisfaction. Chewing was also related with ADL in populations of 80-year-old and 85-year-old. There was a relation between chewing and physical fitness in 80-year-olds. Sound teeth number was related with cognitive function in 60-65 years individuals. Prevalence of abnormal ECG findings was lower in subjects with teeth > or = 20 or with good dentition status. Mortality was lower in individuals with better chewing ability. In summary, chewing and teeth number in an elderly population were related with QOL, ADL, physical fitness, cognitive function, and mortality.