Changes in Electrical TAste Threshold with Advancing Age in Korea

한국인에 있어서 연령증가에 따른 미각의 변화

  • 박성근 (경북대학교 치과대학 구강내과학교실) ;
  • 김선희 (경북대학교 치과대학 구강내과학교) ;
  • 기우천 (경북대학교 치과대학 구강내과학교) ;
  • 최재갑 (경북대학교 치과대학 구강내과학교실)
  • Published : 1998.12.01

Abstract

Aims : The purpose of this study was to investigate whether there are any changes in taste sensitivity with advancing age and to see if smoking or oral hygiene can affect the taste sensitivity. Method : Nine hundred and thirty four subjects(458 male and 476 females) were included for the study and they were categorized into 4 age groups( under 20, 20 to 39, 40 to 59, and over 60 age group ). The electrical taste thresholds were measured using an electrogustometer for the 4 different sites in the oral cavity, I.e., tongue tip, tougue alteral, circumvallate papilla, and soft palate. Results : The elctrical taste thresholds were significantly incresed with advancing age in both gender, but the pattern of change is moere abrupt in female after 40. There were not significant differences in electrical taste threshold between smoking and non-smoking people. Taste thresholds were significantly lower in the groups with higher frequency of daily toothbrushing than the groups with lower frequency Conclusion : The electrical taste threshold is increased with aging. It is not influenced by smoking but by toothbrushing.

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