title: Effects of gum chewing exercises on saliva secretion and occlusal force in community-dwelling elderly individuals: A pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Elderly individuals face the risk of reductions in saliva secretion and occlusal force caused by systemic diseases or medications that can eventually result in malnutrition and systemic complications. We tested the hypothesis that regular gum chewing exercises (GCE) would enhance saliva secretion and occlusal force in an elderly population.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 12 community-dwelling elderly individuals (3 men and 9 women) participated in this study after providing informed consent. Participants carried out GCE regimens using a soft gum (GCE-S) or hard gum (GCE-H) for 2 weeks each, with a 2-week rest period between trials. Mucosal moisture on the tongue surface, resting saliva, and occlusal force were measured before and after each test gum, and changes in parameters at relevant time-points were statistically analyzed. Differences in each measurement item were assessed using the Friedman test for before and after the GCE. We used the Holm's correction for multiple comparisons if the Friedman test results were significant. The critical value for rejecting the null hypothesis was set at P < 0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Resting saliva secretion significantly increased after GCE-S, returned to baseline levels during the rest period and significantly increased again after GCE-H. Mucosal moisture and occlusal force followed a similar trend, with a significant rise after GCE-H.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the present study suggest that GCE can increase resting saliva secretion and occlusal force in elderly individuals. Further investigations are required on the appropriate use of soft and hard gums to address oral frailty in elderly individuals. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2017; 17: 48-53.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Toyoake, Aichi, Japan.|Department of Special Needs Dentistry, Division of Hygiene and Oral Health, Showa University School of Dentistry, Shinagawa, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuharu
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakagawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Toyoake, Aichi, Japan.
authors.forename: Koichiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Matsuo
authors.affiliation: Department of Special Needs Dentistry, Division of Hygiene and Oral Health, Showa University School of Dentistry, Shinagawa, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Daisuke
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Takagi
authors.affiliation: Department of Special Needs Dentistry, Division of Hygiene and Oral Health, Showa University School of Dentistry, Shinagawa, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Morita
authors.affiliation: Department of Special Needs Dentistry, Division of Hygiene and Oral Health, Showa University School of Dentistry, Shinagawa, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Takafumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ooka
authors.affiliation: Department of Special Needs Dentistry, Division of Hygiene and Oral Health, Showa University School of Dentistry, Shinagawa, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Shouji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hironaka
authors.affiliation: Showa University, Shinagawa, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshiharu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mukai
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001732:Bite Force; D002638:Chewing Gum; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006244:Hardness; D006801:Humans; D057187:Independent Living; D008297:Male; D008409:Mastication; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012472:Salivation
chemical_list: D002638:Chewing Gum
keywords: elderly individuals; gum chewing; occlusal force; saliva secretion