The impact of oral health on body image and social interactions among elders in long-term care

Objective The objective of this study was to explore how social interactions and body image are influenced by perceived oral health among older people who live in long‐term care facilities. Background Social interactions among frail elders in long‐term care (LTC) facilities are limited, but to what extent body image and oral health influence their social relations is poorly understood. A positive body image and the perception of adequate oral health are linked to increased social contacts, as well as improved health and well‐being irrespective of age. However, as frailty increases, it is unclear whether appearance and oral health priorities remain stable. Materials and Methods Open‐ended interviews were conducted with a purposefully selected group of cognitively intact, older men and women who exhibited varying degrees of frailty, social engagement and oral health conditions and lived in one of seven long‐term care facilities. The interviews were analysed using a constant comparative technique, and a second interview with participants checked the trustworthiness of the analysis. Results Three major categories were expressed by the participants: (1) My mouth is fine; (2) It depends; and (3) Not that important. Within each category, there were several contributing and influencing factors. Conclusions Social interactions among residents in LTC may be negatively impacted by poor oral health, but only if other personal and social issues are less bothersome than conditions with the mouth.