An Association between The Korean Healthy Eating Index and The Number of Existing Natural Teeth among The Korean Elderly

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effect of the Korean Healthy Eating Index (KHEI) on the number of existing natural teeth among Korean elderly individuals. Methods: The subjects of this study were selected 3,224 respondents aged 65 or older from the 8th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES)(2019-2021). The number of existing natural teeth was divided into less than 20 and more than 20, and the quality of diet was measured by the KHEI and then divided into quartiles (Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4). Results: The crude association of the KHEI and existing natural teeth were 1.314 (Q1 vs. Q2, p<0.05), 1.563 (Q1 vs. Q3, p<0.05), and 1.909 (Q1 vs. Q4, p<0.05), respectively, the higher the KHEI, the higher the possibility that the number of existing natural teeth was more than 20. Moreover, after adjusting for socio-demographics and health status, when compared with the lowest group (Q1) of the KHEI, the odds ratio of existing natural teeth, which was 20 or more in highest group (Q4) was 1.504 (p<0.05).Conclusions: This study showed that the higher the KHEI, the greater the possibility of existing natural teeth, which was 20 or more. Therefore, to plan the polices the improving the oral health among Korean elderly, it is importantly consider the balanced nutrition and dietary knowledge.