Effects of Saliva Secretion on the Assessment of Masticatory Performance

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this experiment was to clarify whether the amount of saliva secreted during the chewing gummy jelly affected the assessment of masticatory performance.Methods: Twenty healthy subjects were asked to chew 2 g of gummy jelly for 10, 15, and 20 seconds and the amounts of glucose extraction and saliva secretion were measured. The changes in both glucose extraction and saliva from 10 to 20 seconds were investigated. Next, the amount of glucose extraction excluding the effect of saliva (extraction B) was divided by the amount of glucose extraction measured (extraction A), and the results for the two chewing times were compared.Results: The amount of glucose extraction increased proportionally as the chewing time progressed and the change was significant. Although the amount of saliva secretion increased as the chewing time progressed, the change differed from the proportional change in glucose extraction. The amount of saliva secretion was extensive for the first 10 seconds and increased about 0.1 ml every 5 seconds. The ratio of the extraction B to extraction A was between 1.03 and 1.05, and there was a significant difference between each pair of chewing times.Conclusion: From these results it was concluded that the amount of saliva secretion increased during chewing of gummy jelly and affected the assessment of masticatory performance, and this effect was less than 5 % for chewing of up to 20 seconds.