Objectives: In this study, we aimed to examine the sex-related association between protein intake and chewing discomfort in older adults. Methods: In this study, we included 2,969 adults aged ≥65 years and performed analyses using raw data from the first and second surveys of the 9th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Moreover, we performed complex-sample cross-tabulation and multiple logistic regression analyses. Results: In both older men and women, the proportion reporting chewing discomfort was higher in the group with a protein intake below the recommended level than in the group meeting or exceeding the recommended level (p<0.05). The risk of chewing discomfort was approximately 1.5 and 1.4 times higher in older men and women, respectively, with protein intake below the recommendation than in those meeting or exceeding the recommendation (p<0.05). Although we observed a statistically significant association between protein intake and chewing discomfort in both sexes, this significance disappeared upon controlling for covariates (p<0.05). Conclusions: Although an association was present between protein intake and chewing discomfort among older adults, statistical significance was lost after adjusting for covariates, suggesting that the effect of protein intake on chewing discomfort might be influenced by combined demographic and sociological factors.