Investigation On Determining Of Chewing Efficiency Using A Solid Test Food And The Relationship Between Oral Physiology Variables And Chewing Efficiency

A major function of mastication is to prepare food for swallowing Furthermore,mastication influences the release of flavor.In this study,Optosil particles were used as a test food to test the chewing efficiency.A total of 33 healthy subjects were recruited.By comparing the effects of the shape,size and amount of sample particles on the distribution of particle size and the masticatory ability,a more suitable method was selected to evaluate the masticatory ability.The application of Optosil particles to the determination of masticatory efficiency is further optimized.To explore the relationship between oral physiological factors and masticatory efficiency.The main research contents and conclusions of this study are as follows:（1）Without ignoring the initial phase of chewing,using initial particles of appropriate shape,size and amount to test chewing efficiency（N（1/2-X₀））and chewing performance(X_50,N)and examining whether intra-subject and inter-subject ratios in chewing ability are constant between and within types of particle samples respectively.Results showed that by using 2 or 4 half-cubes,determination of N（1/2-X₀）or X_50,N0,N needs less chewing cycles than traditionally.Chewing efficiency is preferable over chewing performance.（2）Chewing efficiency was determined for 20 young people and 10middle-aged and elderly people with 3 chewing cycles and 2 chewing cycles.Results showed that there was a significant correlation between the values of masticatory efficiency measured with 3 kinds of masticatory times and the values of masticatory efficiency measured with 4 kinds of masticatory times.When the chewing efficiency was measured with two chewing times,the N values of the two boundaries differed by about 2.25times.The method of determining chewing efficiency using two types of chewing times is suitable for subjects with different chewing ability.（3）By measuring the maximum bite force,tongue muscle strength,stimulating salivary flow rate and tongue locking-up function,the relationship between chewing efficiency and oral physiological factors was studied by multivariate nonlinear regression analysis.The results showed that the occlusion force,the stimulating salivary flow rate and the tongue locking function were used as the influencing factors to curve fitting,and the obtained chewing efficiency had the largest variance prediction.