Introduction:

oral health problems in older adults, associated with poor nutrition, continue to be a worldwide problem with an impact on the health care system.

Objective:

to relate oral health and nutritional status in non-institutionalized older adults.

Methods:

cross-sectional correlational research in the period 2019-2021. Universe: 5218 older adults belonging to the Dental Clinic "Guamá", Pinar del Río. Non-probabilistic purposive sampling: 594 patients attended in that period according to inclusion criteria. Sociodemographic variables, oral and dental alterations, anthropometric profile, eating habits and nutritional status were studied. Empirical methods were used: questionnaire and survey; statistics: absolute and relative frequencies; mean, standard deviation; Student's t, Pearson's correlation and Pearson's Chi-square for a significance level of p<0,05.

Results:

the 60-74 years age group predominated: 56,4 %, pre-university: 30,3 %, married: 77,6 %, low remittance income, periodontitis: 90 % and glossitis: 39,4 %. There were average similarities in the anthropometric indicators when comparing between sexes and ages. Most frequently consumed foods: eggs: 95,4 %, dairy products: 69,4 %. Less frequent: fish, natural juices, liver, fruits, red meat. The Mini Nutritional Assessment questionnaire showed dependence between age and nutritional status for both sexes (p<0,05).

Conclusions:

a statistically significant relationship was found between the deterioration of oral health and nutritional deficit due to a decrease in the consumption of meat, offal and fruit, and therefore a greater integration between dentistry and nutrition is required for the integral management and promotion of health in the elderly from a multidisciplinary perspective.

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