The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the tongue rotation exercise training on the oral functions using the measurement of maximum tongue pressure (MTP) and labial closure strength (LCS) in normal adults. In experiment 1, the differences in MTP and LCS at the measurement point for both groups with and without tongue rotation exercise training were examined. We instructed subjects to perform the tongue rotation exercise for 2 months. We measured MTP and LCS at the point before training and at the points of 1 and 2 months after the beginning of training. In experiment 2, the changes of MTP and LCS based on the sex differences and the measurement points in training were examined. We instructed subjects to perform the tongue rotation exercise for 3 months, and measured MTP and LCS at the point before training and at the points of 2 weeks and 1, 2 and 3 months after the beginning of training. The results of experiment 1 showed MTP and LCS increased with the progress of continuous training. The results of experiment 2 showed MTP and LCS were always higher in men than in women and increased significantly at 2 weeks of training in both sexes (P < 0.01). These results might be suggested that the tongue rotation exercise training was effective for the recovery of the activity of the stomatognathic system.

Objectives: Tongue pressure (TP) is used for the diagnosis of oral hypofunction; however, the impact of several variables on TP is unclear. Therefore, the current systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to analyse the variability in tongue pressure among healthy individuals aged ≥60 years vs <60 years. Secondary outcomes were the influence of gender and the type of measuring device (Iowa Oral Performance Instrument (IOPI) vs JMS tongue pressure measurement device (JMS)). Methods: PubMed and the Japanese database Ichushi-Web were searched systematically by two independent reviewers for studies reporting TP values in healthy populations. Clinical studies published between 1959 and June 2020 with more than 10 participants, written in English, German or Japanese, were included. A randomeffects meta-regression for aggregate-level data was applied (α < 0.05). Results: Sixty-eight studies reported TP for a total of 13 773 subjects aged <60 years (n = 3265) and ≥60 years (n = 10 508). TP was significantly higher in subjects <60 years (estimated weighted mean (EWM) ± standard error = 51.9 ± 1.28 kPa; 95% CI = 49.4-54.4) relative to those ≥60 (EWM = 34.7 ± 0.94 kPa; 95% CI = 32.8-36.5) (P < .001), men (EWM = 45.9 ± 2.09 kPa; 95% CI = 41.8-50.0) relative to women (EWM = 39.3 ± 1.68 kPa; 95% CI = 36.0-42.6) (P = .015) and when assessed with the IOPI (EWM = 51.9 ± 1.32 kPa; 95% CI = 49.3-54.5) compared to the JMS (EWM = 33.5 ± 0.63 kPa; 95% CI = 32.2-34.7) (P < .001). In terms of gender, there was no significant difference in TP among subjects ≥60 years (P = .282). However, in subjects younger than 60, a significant difference was observed (P = .004). Conclusions: Healthy populations aged <60 years showed significantly higher TP than those aged ≥60 years. TP values ascertained by the IOPI are significantly higher than those obtained with the JMS.

Background Quantitative clinical assessment tests for oral function have become popular in patient assessment; however, their comparability remains unclear. Objective To assess the reliability and comparability of pairs of different instruments for measuring maximum tongue pressure (MTP), chewing function (CF) and maximum lip force (MLF), and to analyse the influence of subjects’ characteristics on the applied instruments. Methods Each pair of instruments, as well as a single device measuring the maximum voluntary bite force (MBF), was assessed across 26 healthy volunteers. The respective pairs of devices were compared using Bland‐Altman plots and linear regression analysis. Furthermore, the influence of age, occlusal support zones, number of functional occlusal units, MBF, MTP and MLF were investigated as predictors on CF using a generalised estimating equation model. Results Neither the two assessments of CF, nor of MLF were correlated to each other, but there was a significant correlation between the assessments of MTP. Hue‐Check Gum was able to demonstrate a significantly higher CF in younger compared to older individuals (P = .004) and individuals with high numbers compared to low numbers of occlusal units (P < .001). Those differences could not be demonstrated with the Vivident chewing gum. Conclusion The absolute values of MTP assessed by the two applied devices cannot directly be compared, although normalised values may be directly comparable. Moreover, our observations suggest that the Hue‐Check Gum was able to discriminate the effects of age and the number of occlusal units on CF. Our observations suggest that the two gums cannot be used interchangeably.