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

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Dentistry
• Developmental Psychology
• Nutrition Science

Background:

• Food texture preference (FTP) categorizes children as soft likers (SL) or hard likers.
• Oral clefts, including cleft lip and/or palate, can impact oral motor function and sensory experiences.
• Understanding FTP in children with oral clefts is crucial for nutritional guidance and intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between food texture preference (FTP) and the presence of an oral cleft in children.
• To determine if an oral cleft phenotype influences a child's preference for soft or hard food textures.
• To explore potential associations between oral clefts, FTP, and food neophobia.

Main Methods:

• A case-control study involving children aged 6-13 years with treated oral clefts (cases) and their non-cleft peers (controls).
• Validated questionnaires, including the Child Food Texture Preference Questionnaire (CFTPQ), were used to assess FTP, food neophobia, and food intake.
• Dental status was evaluated by a pediatric dentist.

Main Results:

• Children with oral clefts had a significantly lower mean CFTPQ index, indicating a preference for softer food textures (31.97 ± 16.20) compared to controls (42.07 ± 16.42).
• A higher proportion of cases (51%) were identified as soft likers compared to controls (23%).
• Cases exhibited significantly higher levels of food neophobia (42.67 ± 9.03) than controls (39.03 ± 11.62).

Conclusions:

• Children with oral clefts demonstrate a significant preference for soft food textures.
• Oral cleft phenotype is a significant factor influencing food texture preference in children.
• Children with oral clefts are more prone to food neophobia, suggesting a complex interplay between oral conditions and eating behaviors.