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.