Impact of socio-demographic variables, oral hygiene practices and oral habits on periodontal health status of Indian elderly: a community-based study.

Periodontal disease is the most common cause of tooth loss. It is has insidious onset, chronic course, and commonly result due to cumulative effect of dietary habits, oral hygiene methods and oral habits practiced over the years. This study was planned to evaluate the periodontal health status of elderly population (above 60 years) in the community, using CPITN index, gingival recession, mobility of teeth and halitosis, using modified WHO Oral Health Survey Proforma. In addition, impact of several socio-demographic variables, oral hygiene practices, oral habits, chronic systemic diseases, dietary preferences and body mass index (BMI) on periodontal health status was also studied. It was found that prevalence of periodontal diseases in the elderly was high. Step-wise multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that periodontal diseases were directly correlated with age, oral hygiene practices and presence of cardiac diseases.