Association of masticatory performance with age, gender, number of teeth, occlusal force and salivary flow in Japanese older adults: Is ageing a risk factor for masticatory dysfunction?

Declines in the number of residual teeth, occlusal force and salivary flow were associated with a reduction of masticatory performance in older adults. If tooth loss is not considered as an attribute of physiological ageing, then ageing by itself may not be a risk factor for masticatory dysfunction.