[Interaction between food texture and dental health]. / De wissel werking tussen voedseltextuur en gebitsconditie.

The consistency is one of the sensoric properties of a food item and forms the origin of texture. The texture of a food item can be distinguished in hardness, toughness, stickiness, juiciness and chewability. The consistency of food items may influence dental health. It is suggested that hard food cleans the teeth. The chewing pattern depends on the texture of the masticated food. Hard and tough food require a more horizontal movement of the lower jaw, contrary to soft and tender food which mainly require a vertical movement. An adequate food texture contributes to the acceptability and the preference of food.

The subjective experience of mastication in subjects with shortened dental arches.

In this study the perception of chewing is investigated in forty-three subjects with a shortened dental arch (SDA) by means of an interview. A group of fifty-four subjects with a complete dentition was used as a control group. The aim was: (i) do subjects with a SDA have a higher risk of chewing problems, and (ii) do they have different food perception and food selection leading to change in their diet? The results show that for subjects with a SDA the chewing function, food perception, food selection and actual food consumption are hindered within an acceptable degree.