Food Texture Preference and Oral Clefts: A New Perspective from a Case-Control Study

ObjectiveAccording to food texture preference (FTP), children can be categorized as soft likers (SL) or hard likers. This study explored the relationship between FTP and having an oral cleft in children of the mixed dentition stage. The hypothesis stated that having an oral cleft phenotype would shift a child's FTP toward soft-food textures.DesignA case-control study that employed a validated child food texture preference questionnaire (CFTPQ) to assess FTP. Children's general demographics, food neophobia, and food intake data were collected using validated questionnaires. A pediatric dentist evaluated the children's dental status.SettingData was collected in a dental teaching center and 5 public schools for cases and controls, respectively.ParticipantsThis study included 6- to 13-year-old children with treated oral clefts (n = 87) and their non-cleft peers (n = 413).Main outcome measureCFTPQ index.ResultsCases demonstrated a significantly lower mean CFTPQ index (31.97 ± 16.20) compared to controls (42.07 ± 16.42, P < .001). A total of 45 cases (51%) and 94 (23%) controls were identified as SL (P < .001). Cases were more food neophobic (42.67 ± 9.03) compared to controls (39.03 ± 11.62, P = .002). The final linear regression model identified age and oral cleft phenotype as variables of significant impact on FTP. Moreover, the cleft type, the type, and the number of surgical interventions received did not significantly influence their FTP.ConclusionsThis study offers new insight into a potential relationship between FTP and oral clefts in 6- to 13-year-old children. Children with cleft lip and/or palate demonstrate a preference for soft food textures and are more food-neophobic compared to their non-cleft counterparts.