Association Between Tobacco Smoking, Dental Status and Self-perceived Oral Health in Elderly Adults in Colombia

Tobacco smoking is responsible for several health problems, including mouth diseases. The aim of the present study was to establish the association between smoking and dental status and self-perceived oral health in a large group of elderly Colombian adults. Analysis of 18,937 survey records of participants aged ≥ 60 years old was conducted. Information regarding age, sex, skin color, socioeconomic level, education, marital status, denture use, partial tooth loss or edentulism, Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI) and tobacco smoking was retrieved from the database. A descriptive analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed. Half of the participants were edentulous in the maxilla while mandibular teeth were more frequently retained in more than 60% of the participants. After adjusting for sex and age, smoking consistently increased the odds of partial or complete edentulism in the maxilla (OR 1.05; 95% CI 1.02–1.09) and mandible (OR 1.04; 95% CI 1.00–1.08). Nonetheless, the increase in the odds in the mandible was not statistically significant. The habit of smoking was associated with increased tooth loss that in the long-term may result in poor oral health affecting the quality of life of elderly people.