Oral health and healthy aging: A multiregional review

Oral health is a critical determinant of overall well-being and healthy aging, especially in countries with growing older populations and health disparities. Maintaining healthy teeth, gums, and orofacial structures improves the quality of life (QoL) while simultaneously reducing the risk associated with several non-communicable diseases through modifying shared risk factors and controlling inflammation. Oral diseases, such as dental caries and periodontal issues, affect nearly 903 million people in Southeast Asia (SEA), with a 61.4% increase in their prevalence from 1990 to 2019. Poor oral health, especially in older individuals, is associated with functional impairments, nutritional deficiencies, psychosocial challenges, and systemic health issues such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Shared risk factors, including dietary habits, stress, and socioeconomic inequalities, compound these challenges. Functional limitations due to oral health inadequacies, such as edentulism, difficulty chewing, pain during eating, and speech impairments, negatively impact nutritional intake and social participation. The impact of oral diseases on QoL and their association with systemic health emphasize the need for preventive strategies and early interventions. Enhancing oral health can bridge the gap between lifespan and healthspan, thereby improving an individual's QoL, reducing healthcare costs, easing the burden on the healthcare system, and alleviating societal burdens for future generations. Most oral health issues can be managed and mitigated through integrated healthcare strategies, preventive interventions, and public education campaigns. This review emphasizes the need for awareness and a collaborative, interprofessional approach within the healthcare system to ensure equitable access to oral care and support healthy aging across SEA.