OBJECTIVE

To examine the relationship between the number and type of teeth and nutrient intakes in adults, aged 60 years and above, in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2004 using linear regression.

METHODS

Four discrete dental status groups were created: complete natural dentition (reference group), incomplete natural dentition, complete mixed (natural and restored) dentition and incomplete mixed dentition. We ran both unadjusted and adjusted models, controlling for age, race/ethnicity, education and smoking status to examine the effect of these covariates on the association between dentition status and nutrient intakes. Separate models were run for men and women.

RESULTS

There were significant associations between dental status and all the examined nutrients for men and for the carotenes and folate for women in the unadjusted model. Only caloric and vitamin C intakes were significant for men, and β-carotene was significant for women in the adjusted model. For men for kilocalories and women for β-carotene, those with a complete dentition had higher mean intakes than those with an incomplete dentition, regardless of the tooth type. Among men with an incomplete dentition, those with a mixed dentition had a significantly lower vitamin C intake than those with a natural dentition; there were no significant differences between the natural and mixed complete dentition groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Demographic and behavioural variables explained many of the differences seen in nutrient intakes. After controlling for these variables, we found that a numeric threshold of teeth (i.e. a functional dentition) influenced some nutrient intakes while the number and type of teeth present affected other nutrient intakes.