Researchers at NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing performed a study on older adults to assess if there is a link between social isolation and dental health. The survey included older Chinese adults and focused on general social well-being and its impact on their dental health. The study results suggest that socially isolated adults are more likely to have missing teeth and are more susceptible to poor oral health. They also lost their teeth more quickly over time compared to adults that had an active social life. The study’s findings are also published in the reputed Journal of Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology.
A PhD student at NYU Meyers and the lead author of the study, Xiang Qi, explains how social isolation and loneliness in older adults are coming out to be major public health concerns around the world. Social isolation is also a risk factor for various health complications such as heart disease, mental health disorders, cognitive decline, and premature death.
According to World Health Organisation, in many countries, especially in developed countries, one in three older adults confess to feeling lonely. The pandemic has further cut down any remaining in-person interaction due to preventive lockdowns which have further worsened the situation.
The words social isolation and loneliness is often used interchangeably, however, they are very different from each other. Social isolation is an objective measure, whereas loneliness is subjective and a feeling. Social isolation is when one has less or almost no social connection. Loneliness on the other hand is a feeling. One can be lonely even among a group of people.
Bei Wu, Dean’s Professor in Global Health at NYU Meyers and the study’s senior author explains that although social isolation and loneliness often go hand in hand there are instances where one can live alone and be socially isolated but not feel lonely. Whereas, in some cases, one may be surrounded by people but still have a feeling of loneliness.
Socially isolated older adults are at a higher risk of losing teeth. On an average, people in China, in the age range of 65 to 74 have fewer than 23 teeth. A healthy adult will have 28 teeth + 4 wisdom teeth, that is 32 teeth. Wisdom tooth removal is a usual occurrence these days and that’s why the average number of teeth considered in 28. it was reported that 4.5% of people in the following age group had lost all their teeth. Gum diseases such as gingivitis and periodontitis, dental decay, habits such as smoking, chronic illnesses like diabetes and heart diseases, and lack of access to proper dental care further increase the risk of tooth loss.
Living with missing teeth is complex and significantly impacts a person’s quality of life. Missing even a single tooth affects nutrition, speech and facial aesthetics which in turn affects self-confidence.
With the help of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey, the researchers collected and analyzed data from 4,268 adults aged 65-74 years. They studied their social status and number of present teeth. The participants were given a questionnaire to complete at three different time lines that is; 2011-12, 2014, and 2018. The questionnaire was made in a manner that captivated different measures of social isolation and loneliness and the number of teeth people had lost in the duration of the study (7 years).
These results were as follows, 27.5% of participants came out to be socially isolated while 26.5% of the older adults reported feeling lonely. The higher the degree of social isolation lesser the number of teeth. This percentage remained constant even when other influencing factors such as oral hygiene, health status, smoking and drinking, and loneliness were controlled. This further conclusively proves that social isolation indeed influences the number of teeth present. Through the study, it was found out that adults who were socially isolated has 2.1 fewer natural teeth and 1.4 times greater rate of tooth loss when compared to those with an active social life.
This may be because socially isolated older adults tend to be less engaged in social and health-promoting behaviors such as physical activity. Lack of physical activity and connection has a negative impact overall functioning and oral hygiene of a person. It further increases their risk of suffering from systemic illnesses. This form of functional impairment has a strong link with tooth loss.
Surprisingly, the results of the study also sheds a light on how loneliness is not associated with the number of remaining teeth or with the rate of tooth loss. This outcome can be explained in the following manner: social isolation leads to a lack of support which affects functionality. On the other hand, lonely people may still have an intact social network that promotes healthy behavior despite everything.
The findings of the present study are relevant in today’s day and age in many parts of China, especially, the US. Social isolation is on its way to becoming a global issue and dentists it is our moral duty to highlight the benefits of social interaction and take added efforts to encourage the importance of generational support within families and help improve older adults social connections.
DISCLAIMER: The advice offered is intended to be informational only and generic in nature. It is in no way offering a definitive diagnosis or specific treatment recommendations for your particular situation. Any advice offered is no substitute for proper evaluation and care by a qualified dentist.
