Tongue function is important for masticatory performance in the healthy elderly: a cross-sectional survey of community-dwelling elderly

Keiichiro Sagawa; Hiroyasu Furuya; Yuki Ohara; Mitsuyoshi Yoshida; Hirohiko Hirano; Katsuya Iijima; Takeshi Kikutani

doi:10.1016/j.jpor.2018.03.006

Tongue function is important for masticatory performance in the healthy elderly: a cross-sectional survey of community-dwelling elderly

J Prosthodont Res. 2019 Jan;63(1):31-34. doi: 10.1016/j.jpor.2018.03.006. Epub 2018 Sep 7.

Authors

Keiichiro Sagawa¹, Hiroyasu Furuya¹, Yuki Ohara², Mitsuyoshi Yoshida³, Hirohiko Hirano⁴, Katsuya Iijima⁵, Takeshi Kikutani⁶

Affiliations

¹ The Nippon Dental University, Graduate School of Life Dentistry, Division of Clinical Oral Rehabilitation, Tokyo, Japan.
² Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Department of Oral Health Care Education, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo, Japan.
³ Hiroshima University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Department of Advanced Prosthodontics, Hiroshima, Japan.
⁴ Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, Research Team for Promoting Independence of the Elderly, Tokyo, Japan.
⁵ The University of Tokyo, Institute of Gerontology (IOG), Tokyo, Japan.
⁶ The Nippon Dental University, Graduate School of Life Dentistry, Division of Clinical Oral Rehabilitation, Tokyo, Japan; The Nippon Dental University, Tama Oral Rehabilitation Clinic, Division of Rehabilitation for Speech and Swallowing Disorders, Tokyo, Japan. Electronic address: kikutani@tokyo.ndu.ac.jp.

PMID: 30197226
DOI: 10.1016/j.jpor.2018.03.006

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the influences of oral motor function such as tongue function and bite force on masticatory performance in the elderly.

Methods: We randomly selected 245 subjects who has 28 natural teeth among community-dwelling elderly. We evaluated masticatory performance using a gummy jelly, and also measured bite force, tongue muscle force, and the speed of tongue movement.

Results: We found that reduced masticatory performance to be associated with decreased the speed of tongue movement and/or tongue muscle force, indicating that reduced oral motor function also influences masticatory performance.

Conclusions: These results suggest that keeping oral motor function, as well as maintenance of occlusal support, to be important for maintaining masticatory function in the elderly.

Keywords: Bite force; Elderly; Masticatory function; Oral function; Speed of tongue movement; Tongue muscle force.

MeSH terms

Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Bite Force
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Healthy Aging / physiology*
Humans
Male
Mastication / physiology*
Motor Activity
Movement
Muscle, Skeletal / physiology
Tongue / anatomy & histology
Tongue / physiology*