Division of Oral Health Sciences, Developmental Oral Health Science, Department of Orofacial Development and Function, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo, Japan.
Int J Paediatr Dent. 2012 Mar;22(2):146-53. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-263X.2011.01162.x. Epub 2011 Jul 22.
Mastication is a developing function affected by various factors. There is a need for further research on methods of promoting masticatory function in young children.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of gum chewing exercise on the maximum bite force (MBF) and the masticatory performance of preschool children.
The study population included 98 preschool children age 4-6years. MBF was measured by Occlusal Force-Meter(®) , and masticatory performance values were evaluated by using the colour-changeable chewing gum. The examinations were performed four times with an interval of 4weeks. An exercise group of 70 subjects was instructed to chew the exercise gum twice daily for 5min during a 4-week period. The chewing gum used for this study was specially developed with the physical property of maintaining hardness during chewing. A control group of 28 subjects was instructed not to chew any gum during the study period.
No significant differences were found between the exercise group and the control group in MBF and a* values at the start of the study. After 4weeks of chewing exercise, MBF and a* values were significantly increased in the exercise group compared with those of the control group. These increases were maintained for 4weeks after exercise had finished.
Gum chewing exercise is effective to increase MBF and a* values of preschool children and the effects are maintained after exercise completion.
咀嚼是一种受多种因素影响的发育功能。需要进一步研究促进幼儿咀嚼功能的方法。
本研究旨在评估咀嚼口香糖运动对学龄前儿童最大咬合力（MBF）和咀嚼性能的影响。
研究人群包括 98 名 4-6 岁的学龄前儿童。MBF 通过 Occlusal Force-Meter(®) 测量，咀嚼性能值通过变色咀嚼口香糖评估。检查在 4 周的间隔内进行 4 次。70 名实验组儿童被指示在 4 周内每天咀嚼运动口香糖 2 次，每次 5 分钟。用于本研究的口香糖是专门开发的，具有咀嚼过程中保持硬度的物理特性。28 名对照组儿童在研究期间被指示不要咀嚼任何口香糖。
在研究开始时，实验组和对照组的 MBF 和 a值之间没有显著差异。咀嚼运动 4 周后，实验组的 MBF 和 a值与对照组相比显著增加。这些增加在运动结束后 4 周内保持。
咀嚼口香糖运动可有效增加学龄前儿童的 MBF 和 a*值，且运动结束后效果仍可维持。
