歯間清掃と舌ブラシで健康長寿に期待ー高齢者約1万人の追跡調査で死亡リスク低下との関連を確認ー

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2026-06-26 東京科学大学

東京科学大学(Science Tokyo)の研究グループは、日本老年学的評価研究(JAGES)のデータを用いて、地域で自立して暮らす65歳以上の高齢者9,676人を6年間追跡し、日常的な口腔保健行動と全死因死亡リスクとの関連を調査した。その結果、年齢や性別、社会経済状況、生活習慣、健康状態などの影響を調整した後でも、デンタルフロスや歯間ブラシなどの歯間清掃具を使用する人では死亡リスクが約11%、舌ブラシを使用する人では約23%低いことが明らかとなった。一方、歯磨き回数、歯磨剤、洗口液の使用、歯科受診や歯科健診については、有意な関連は認められなかった。口腔内細菌は誤嚥性肺炎の原因となることが知られており、歯間清掃や舌清掃による細菌の減少が健康維持に寄与している可能性がある。本研究は、簡便で低コストな口腔ケアが高齢者の健康寿命延伸や健康長寿に役立つ可能性を示したものであり、今後は死亡リスク低下の生物学的メカニズムの解明が期待される。

歯間清掃と舌ブラシで健康長寿に期待ー高齢者約1万人の追跡調査で死亡リスク低下との関連を確認ー
図1. 日常的な口腔保健行動と高齢者の全死因死亡リスクとの関連(n=9,676、6年の追跡)

<関連情報>

高齢日本人における日常的な口腔衛生習慣と全死因死亡率:6年間のコホート研究 Routine oral health practices and all-cause mortality among older Japanese adults: A 6-year cohort study

Kewei Wang, Yusuke Matsuyama, Sakura Kiuchi, Taro Kusama, Duc Sy Minh Ho, Jun Aida
Journal of Dentistry  Available online 23 May 2026
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdent.2026.106789

Abstract

Objectives

To examine whether multiple routine oral health practices reduce all-cause mortality, and how these associations are modified by sociodemographic, behavioral, and health related factors.

Methods

Data were derived from the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study (JAGES), with participants enrolled between 3 October and 14 November 2016. Participants who were not certified for long-term care insurance and completed the questionnaire version including oral health practice items were eligible; edentulous or not functionally independent individuals were excluded. Participants were categorized according to engagement in seven routine practices: toothbrushing ≥twice/day, use of interdental cleaner, tongue cleaner, toothpaste, mouthwash, and dental visits for treatment or checkups in the past 12 months. The outcome was all-cause mortality through 20 June 2023. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using inverse probability weighted Cox proportional hazard models, adjusting for confounding. For oral health practices exhibiting significant association, moderator wide analyses were conducted to explore potential effect modification by age, sex, education, income, smoking, alcohol consumption, body mass index, walking time, living status, self-rated health, number of teeth, and depression.

Results

During the 6-year follow-up, the mortality incidence rate was 17.3/1000 person-year among 9676 participants (46.5% male; mean age=73.7 ± 5.9 years). Significant risk reductions in all-cause mortality were observed for interdental cleaner use (HR=0.89; 95% CI=0.80–0.99) and tongue cleaner use (HR=0.77; 95%CI=0.68–0.87). No significant effect modification was detected.

Conclusions

In this nationwide cohort study, the use of interdental and tongue cleaners was associated with lower all-cause mortality among community-dwelling Japanese older adults during 6 years of follow-up.

Clinical significance

The results suggest that simple and low-cost practices may contribute to healthy longevity in ageing societies, and support further investigation into potential mechanisms, including pathways related to aspiration and respiratory infections.

医療・健康
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