Objective  To analyze the prevalence of and the effect of life style on missing teeth among the elderly in China.

  Methods  Data on 19 981 residents aged 60 years and above were derived from Nation Chronic Disease Surveillance conducted in 2010 across in China. Chi-square test and unconditional multivariate logistic regression were used to explore the association of life style with missing teeth in the elderly.

  Results  The prevalence rate of missing teeth was 68.94% in the elderly surveyed. Regression analysis revealed following significant risk factors for missing teeth in the elderly: with a television screen time of 1.5 hours or more per day (odds ratio (OR) = 1.228, 95% confidence interval 95% CI: 1.039 – 1.324), consuming vegetables less than 2 times per day (OR = 1.173, 95% CI: 1.061 – 1.296), and alcohol drinking during past 12 months (OR = 1.096, 95% CI: 1.006 – 1.206); in addition, the elderly never visiting a dentist was at a greatly increased risk of missing teeth (OR = 8.003, 95% CI: 7.338 – 8.734) in contrast to those with a history of visiting a dentist.

  Conclusion  The prevalence of missing teeth was relatively high and associated with life style, especially with the history of visiting a dentist, among the elderly in China.