Oral temperatures in young and old people.

Oral temperatures were measured in ten young females and ten young males, and compared to oral temperatures measured in ten elderly females and ten elderly males. Each subject had a complete natural dentition. When analysed by sex, it was found that the temperatures in elderly males were lower than in young males (P less than 0.001), while temperatures in young and elderly females did not differ. Concerning sublingual temperatures, a difference of approximately one-third of a degree centigrade was demonstrated between the two age groups (P less than 0.005).