Relationship between oral health behaviour and handgrip strength: a cross-sectional study with 7589 Korean adults

Objective: This cross-sectional study investigated the relationship between handgrip strength and oral health behaviours among Koreans. Methods: The data of 7589 individuals (3384 men and 4205 women) aged ≥19 years who participated in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2014-2015 were analyzed. Oral health behaviour was assessed based on the number of daily toothbrushing sessions and the use of secondary oral-care products. The association between oral-health behaviour and handgrip strength was investigated adjusting for confounders. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed (α = 0.05). Results: The proportion of participants diagnosed with sarcopenia was significantly higher in the group with poor oral-health behaviours. After adjusting for confounders including age, the adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals of female participants with low handgrip strength in groups toothbrushing thrice or more per day, twice per day, and once or less per day were 1 (reference), 1.18 (0.99-1.4), and 1.24 (0.89-1.71), respectively. There were significantly more participants with low handgrip strength in the group that did not use secondary oral products for both sexes. Conclusions: Oral health behaviour is associated with handgrip strength among adults. Poor oral self-care habits may constitute a risk indicator for low muscle strength.