Oral hypofunction, or the decline in one’s ability to use the mouth to eat, speak, taste and other daily tasks, is associated with older adults, especially those over the age of 65.

It is a condition in which a person experiences at least three of the following symptoms: poor oral hygiene; dryness of the mouth; reduced occlusal force, which is the pressure exerted by the upper and lower teeth when biting or chewing; decreased tonguelip motor function; decreased tongue pressure; decreased masticatory function, which is the ability to chew and break down food in the mouth; and decreased swallowing function.

Dr. Hiroshi Ogawa, director of the World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centre for Translation of Oral Health Sciences at Niigata University and member of the WHO Consortium on Healthy Ageing, said jaw exercise may be performed by senior citizens to improve oral function and prevent further decline. The WHO Consortium for Healthy Ageing is a group of global experts that advances research and clinical practice related to healthy aging.

Speaking on Feb. 6, the second day of the International Oral Health Summit organized by the University of the Philippines College of Dentistry (UPCD), Ogawa said: “The population of older people is the fastest growing age group in Asia. Older people today have higher expectations about oral health than did previous generations. Oral health contributes to healthy longevity.”

Ogawa shared exercises from a brochure published by FDI World Dental Federation. The exercises aim to improve the following: mouth and tongue movements and saliva production, swallowing power, chewing power, pronunciation and tongue power.

The exercises may be found on this link: www.fdiworlddental.org/sites/default/ files/2023-11/FDI%20OHA P%20Exercise%20Brochure.pdf. The summit was held on Feb. 5 and 6 as part of the 110th founding anniversary celebration of UPCD. It brought together 14 world-renowned experts in oral health from 10 top-ranking dental schools across eight countries in Asia and the US.