The number of teeth is associated with diet quality in Korean adult population.

• Korean Healthy Index scores were shown to increase as the number of teeth increased. • The number of teeth is significantly associated with diet quality. • Better oral health may improve diet quality and, ultimately, the general health. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between the number of teeth and diet quality for Korean adult population. Eligible participants in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey during 2013–2015 were included (N = 11,461). Participants were grouped into three groups depending on the total number of teeth: 28 teeth, 20−27 teeth, and 0−19 teeth. Diet quality was defined using the Korean Healthy Eating Index (KHEI) by 24 -h recall methods. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were applied controlling for age, income, education, smoking, diabetes mellitus, obesity, and hypertension. In fully adjusted models, each tooth showed an increased KHEI score by 0.133 score and 0.150 score in males and females, respectively (p < 0.001 for all). The KHEI scores of participants with 0–19 and 20–27 teeth were 2.357 and 0.810 lower in males than those with 28 teeth (p = 0.001). The KHEI scores for females with 0–19 and 20–27 teeth were 3.008 and 1.223 lower than those with all teeth (p < 0.001). Considering KHEI 14 components, there was a clear association between the components and the number of teeth in females and males. The results found a positively significant association between the number of teeth and diet quality in a nationally representative sample of the Korean adult population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]