How oral health and food sensory properties impact oral comfort during consumption of apples: A comparative approach in seniors and young adults

Abstract

Difficulties encountered during oral processing may cause food avoidance and increase the risk of malnutrition in older adults. The present survey aimed at comparing oral comfort experienced during consumption of apples in elderly and younger people. To do this, 122 participants divided into a senior group (65–83 years) and a control group (35–64 years) rated three varieties of apples (Gala, Granny Smith, Honey Crunch) using a “food comfortability” questionnaire related to general comfort, bolus formation, pain, texture, and taste sensations, and were assessed for their oral conditions. Each score of the “food comfortability” questionnaire was then submitted to a global principal component analysis and an analysis of variance. Apple variety was a significant factor for all items of the questionnaire. Age significantly affected dental pain, crunchiness, and melting sensation, with increased scores for pain and melting perception, and decreased scores for crunchiness when aging. Global comfort experienced while eating apple was also impacted by dental status and resting saliva flow rate. Bolus moistening was related to stimulated saliva flow rate, and its fragmentation was dependant on denture use. Painful sensations depended on self‐reported oral quality of life and sweet taste perception was influenced by the presence of oral mucosal disease. Apple variety is a good predictor of oral comfort experienced while eating. Altough age has a little effect on pain and texture perception, oral conditions such as missing teeth or denture use also contribute to oral comfort when consuming apples.

Food‐related oral discomfort: A cross‐sectional survey assessing the sensory dimension of oral discomfort in French independently living adults

“…This discrepancy may however rely on impaired participants’ sensory/motor abilities related to bolus formation and food ingestion, which have not presently been assessed. Statistical analysis demonstrated that the oral discomfort varied accordingly to the OHQoL and the occlusal status, which is consistent with previous reports 15,20 . The majority of participants experiencing oral discomfort complained about painless discomfort, lasting for few years, affecting the teeth and the gums surrounding teeth, induced by the contact between teeth or food products.…”

“…Between December 2017 and January 2018, a sample of 125 subjects older than 35 years was invited to participate to the OralPom survey exploring food‐related oral comfort, food selectivity and oral conditions 20 . Living at home was considered as recruitment criteria.…”

Oral health–related food selectivity among French independently living elders

“…This research was a part of a RENESSENS project, namely OralPom survey . The protocol received the approval of the Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) Institutional Review Board (ID 17‐420) and the survey followed the ethical principles of the Helsinki Declaration and Good Clinical Practice.…”

“…Between December 2017 and January 2018, a sample of 125 subjects older than 35 years was invited to participate in the OralPom survey exploring food‐related oral comfort, food selectivity and oral conditions . Living at home was considered as recruitment criteria.…”

“…This research was a part of a RENESSENS project, namely OralPom survey. 41 The protocol received the approval of the Institut National…”