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[Masticatory training with chewing gum on young children]
1Department of Pedodontics, School of Dentistry, Tokyo Medical and Dental University.
Summary
Masticatory training using special chewing gum significantly increased biting force by 94% in young children. This suggests a method to enhance the development of chewing function in preschoolers.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Dentistry
- Developmental Biology
- Biomechanics
Context:
- Mastication is a learned developmental function crucial for nutrition and growth.
- Biting force, a key component of masticatory function, naturally increases with age.
- Enhancing masticatory function during early development is a potential therapeutic goal.
Purpose:
- To investigate the efficacy of a novel masticatory training program using specially fabricated chewing gum in preschool children.
- To assess the impact of this training on the development of biting force in young children.
Summary:
- A 3-month masticatory training program involving 10 preschool children (ages 3-5) biting specially designed chewing gum for 5 minutes twice daily was conducted.
- The training resulted in a significant average increase of 94% in biting force.
- The most rapid improvements in biting force were observed during the initial month of training.
Impact:
- This study demonstrates a highly effective, non-invasive method for enhancing masticatory function in young children.
- The findings suggest that targeted masticatory training can accelerate the maturation of oral motor skills, potentially improving eating habits and overall development.