Community‐Based Approaches to Oral Frailty for Healthy Longevity in Japan: Bridging Screening, Community Action, and Integrated Care

ABSTRACT

In super‐aged societies such as Japan, achieving “healthy longevity with well‐being” requires not only medical and long‐term care services but also a seamless continuum that integrates health promotion, frailty prevention, and community‐based support, along with age‐friendly physical and social environments that support functional ability, social participation, and independent living. Within this framework, oral frailty (OF)—defined as the accumulation of slight declines in oral function, including tooth loss, chewing and swallowing difficulties, oral dryness, and low articulatory oral motor skills—has emerged as a key indicator linking oral health to systemic frailty, disability, and mortality. Originating in Japan, the concept of OF emphasizes early detection and reversibility through multidisciplinary collaboration. The 2024 Consensus Statement issued by three academic societies (the Japan Geriatrics Society, the Japanese Society of Gerodontology, and the Japanese Association on Sarcopenia and Frailty) proposed a definition, conceptual model, and assessment using the Oral Frailty 5‐item Checklist (OF‐5). This review summarizes the development of OF initiatives within Japan's Community‐Based Integrated Care System and discusses recent international trends, including the WHO Global Oral Health Action Plan (2023–2030), the FDI policy statement “Oral Health for Healthy Ageing,” and emerging global research evidence. Practical examples, such as a community‐wide campaign in Hiratsuka City, illustrate multisectoral collaboration to prevent and raise awareness of OF. Finally, we highlight future directions, including integration of oral health into community development, strengthening interprofessional collaboration, and leveraging digital technologies for monitoring and education. By integrating clinical, community, and policy perspectives, the Japanese concept of OF offers a promising, implementable model for global healthy aging.