METHODS: The study included 26 participants (10 boys and 16 girls; mean age ± standard error = 9.3 ± 0.3 years) who were asked to chew hard gummy candy twice daily for 4 weeks at home. The lip-closing force, occlusal force, and masticatory performance of the participants were recorded before commencement (T1), 4 weeks after commencement (T2), and 4 weeks after completion (T3) of the training. Statistical analyses were performed using the Wilcoxon rank-sum test or the Wilcoxon signed-rank test with Bonferroni correction.
RESULTS: No significant differences in masticatory function by gender and age groups (defined based on mean age at T1) were observed at T1. The lip-closing and right occlusal forces increased significantly after 4 weeks of exercise, and the effects persisted for another 4 weeks after completion. The masticatory performance also improved after training, although these effects did not persist and deteriorated substantially 4 weeks after completion of the training.
CONCLUSIONS: Habitual mastication training using hard gummy candy markedly enhances masticatory function (e.g., lip-closing force, occlusal force, and masticatory performance) in Japanese children.
方法:该研究包括26名参与者(10名男孩和16名女孩;平均年龄±标准误差=9.3±0.3岁),他们被要求在家中每天两次咀嚼坚硬的软糖,持续4周。嘴唇闭合力,咬合力,并在开始前(T1)记录参与者的咀嚼表现,开始后4周(T2),以及训练完成(T3)后4周。使用Wilcoxon秩和检验或具有Bonferroni校正的Wilcoxon符号秩检验进行统计分析。
结果:在T1时没有观察到咀嚼功能和性别之间的相关性。运动4周后,闭合唇力和右咬合力显著增加,完成后,效果持续了4周。经过训练后咀嚼性能也有所改善,尽管这些效果没有持续,并且在训练结束后4周明显恶化。
结论:使用硬软糖的习惯性咀嚼训练显着增强咀嚼功能(例如,唇闭力,咬合力,和咀嚼表演)在日本儿童中。