Characteristics of Three Oral Functions in Young and Older Females—A Pilot Study

Abstract

Objective This study aimed to determine the characteristics of occlusal force, lip strength, and tongue pressure in older and young females. Methods We included 16 healthy young female university students and 16 community-dwelling females aged >65 years. Age, occlusal force, lip strength, tongue pressure, and grip strength were confirmed using Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient. Differences in these functions between young and older females were analyzed using the Mann–Whitney U test. Results The occlusal force was associated with grip strength (ρ = 0.64) and tongue pressure (ρ = 0.59). Tongue pressure and occlusal force showed significant differences between older and young women. However, there was no significant difference in lip-closing strength. Conclusion The results of this study suggest that occlusal force, lip strength, and tongue pressure should be measured, respectively, in order to evaluate oral function in female.