Influence of bite force and tongue pressure on oro-pharyngeal residue in the elderly

To investigate the influence of maximal bite force, maximal tongue pressure, number of mastications and swallowing on the oro-pharyngeal residue in the elderly.

Oro-pharyngeal residue in the elderly is an indication of dysphagia. Pharyngeal residue is especially critical as it may cause aspiration pneumonia, which is one of the major causes of death in elderly.

Videofluorographic recordings were performed on 14 elderly volunteers (six males, eight females, age range 65-93 years) without any history or symptoms of dysphagia. The subjects were instructed to consume 9 g of barium containing bread in two manners; free mastication and swallow (FMS: masticate and swallow freely), and limited mastication and swallow (LMS: swallow once after 30 chewing actions). The amount of oral and pharyngeal residue was evaluated using a 4-point rating scale. Maximal occlusal force was measured by a pressure sensitive sheet, and maximal tongue pressure using a handy probe. Multiple regression analysis was performed to examine the influence of these items on the amount of oral and pharyngeal residue in FMS and LMS.

In FMS, age was found to be a factor which increased oral residue (p = 0.053), and the number of swallowing (p = 0.017) and the state of the prosthesis (p = 0.030) reduced the pharyngeal residue. In LMS, tongue pressure was a factor which reduced oral residue (p = 0.015) and increased pharyngeal residue (p = 0.008).

It is suggested that in the elderly tongue pressure contributed to propulsion of the food bolus from oral cavity into the pharynx, and multiple swallowing contributed to the reduction in the amount of pharyngeal residue.