Impact of medical and life-style factors on number of teeth in 68-year-old men in southern Sweden.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the impact of general health and life-style factors on the number of remaining teeth in 68-year-old men living in the city of Malmö, Sweden. The study included 483 men (participation rate, 78%). Poor self-assessed health, frequent medical attendance, diabetes, and oral dryness were related to fewer remaining teeth. Number of teeth was negatively correlated to concentrations of triglycerides and alkaline phosphatases in serum and to glucose in blood but positively correlated to serum urea. Various dietary variables including consumption of sucrose-containing products and nutritional quality were not related either to number of teeth or to prevalence of edentulousness. Smoking and high consumption of coffee or alcohol were associated with fewer remaining teeth. Multiple logistic regression analyses showed that social class, frequency of dental attendance, smoking, and serum concentrations of triglycerides and urea had an independent effect on number of teeth.