Indicator of tongue pressure to estimate the mastication pattern in an aging population.

Statement of problem: The mastication ability of the elderly greatly affects their health-related quality of life. However, studies investigating the impact of peri-oral muscular strength on the performance of mastication in older adults are lacking.

Purpose: The purpose of this cross-sectional clinical study in older adults was to formulate an equation relating to the mastication pattern and tongue pressure to estimate the correlation between tongue pressure and habitual mastication patterns, including mastication strokes and mastication time.

Material and methods: A total of 98 healthy adults over 65 years old who were independent in daily activities and had no swallowing difficulties were enrolled. Tongue pressure was measured with the Iowa Oral Performance Instrument (IOPI), which assesses pressure generated by squeezing a bulb between the tongue and palate. The mastication pattern was evaluated by counting strokes and measuring the time required to consume a cornstarch cookie. Statistical analysis used linear regression (α=.05).

Results: The sample included 48 women and 50 men with an average age of 71.7 years. Tongue pressure demonstrated a significant correlation with both mastication time and mastication strokes (P=.03 and.04, respectively). The findings led to a linear regression model linking tongue pressure (x) to mastication time (y₁) and mastication strokes (y₂), expressed as y₁=-0.2976x + 33.907 and y₂=-0.4134x + 45.624.

Conclusions: In older adults, a correlation was found between tongue pressure and both mastication time and mastication strokes. Based on this correlation, measuring tongue pressure might provide insight into mastication patterns, while estimating mastication time and mastication strokes could help gauge tongue strength in an aging population. Mastication ability could then be assessed and appropriate food textures chosen for elderly individuals. This formula could also help determine the optimal tongue pressure value for enhancing the mastication pattern by serving as a guide for tongue training or rehabilitation initiatives.