INTRODUCTION:
Oral health is an integral component of overall health and plays a vital role in promoting healthy aging. Poor oral health conditions can compromise essential daily activities such as eating, speaking, and social interaction, thereby affecting individuals’ well-being and functional ability. This study evaluated the prevalence of oral health impact on daily activities and its association with limitations on basic activities of daily living (BADL) in a representative sample of older Brazilian adults (50 years or older).

METHODS:
This was a cross-sectional study with data from the last wave 2019/2021 of the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Aging (ELSI–Brazil). The dependent variable was the limitation in basic activities of daily living. The independent variable of interest was the impact of oral health on daily activities (no; yes), measured by the Oral Health Impact on Daily Performances (OIDP). Covariates included: number of teeth, use of dental prostheses, sex, age, education, and number of chronic diseases. The relationship between OIDP and BADL was assessed by bivariate and logistic regression models adjusted for covariates.

RESULTS:
The sample included 9318 older adults. The prevalence of BADL limitation was 10.0% and the prevalence of the impact of oral health on activities of daily living was 55.8%. These impacts ranged from 5.2% for speaking to 34.7% for impacts on emotional stability. In the adjusted model, older adults reporting an impact of oral health on daily activities had higher odds of limitations in basic activities of daily living (OR 2.88; 95% CI: 2.14–3.88).

CONCLUSIONS:
Oral health significantly affects daily functioning and is associated with limitations in BADL among older Brazilian adults. These findings highlight the importance of integrating oral health care into broader strategies for promoting functional independence and healthy aging.