Household food insecurity—meaning irregular or unreliable access to adequate food—affects roughly 1 out of every 15 Americans aged ≥60. In this population, it is linked to multiple chronic illnesses, reduced use of prescribed medications that worsen conditions like diabetes or hypertension, and diminished oral health. Despite this, the connection between food insecurity and oral health has not been thoroughly explored. This study examined how food insecurity relates to several oral health measures in older adults in the United States.
We conducted a prospective assessment of a subgroup of Health and Retirement Study (HRS) participants who completed food insecurity items in 2013 and a dental health–focused supplemental survey in 2018 (N = 472).
About 20% of participants indicated experiencing food insecurity within the past year. Food insecurity showed a clear association with poorer oral health–related quality of life and increased tooth loss. Compared with food-secure counterparts, food-insecure individuals rated their oral health less favorably (OR = 2.67), were more likely to have lost ≥8 teeth (OR = 2.35), and had reduced odds of receiving dental services (OR = 0.60).
Although those with food insecurity had more unmet dental needs than individuals with stable food access, they sought dental treatment less often. Improving oral health in this population may require not only expanding access to care but also addressing broader social and environmental barriers that limit their ability to obtain needed services.
