Children who have more toothache-related behaviors have worse masticatory performance

Abstract

Inadequate masticatory function can be linked to oral problems and result in functional limitation. In children, this function is extremely important for their development, and therefore efforts are made to keep it adequate. To evaluate whether dental pain-related behaviors are associated with masticatory performance (MP). A cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 123 children from 3 to 5 years old. Toothache was evaluated using the Dental Discomfort Questionnaire. Anthropometric data, predominant type of breathing, presence of malocclusion, number of posterior teeth cavitated by dental caries, and masticatory units were collected. MP was measured by the median size of the crushed particles (X50) after 20 cycles of chewing the Optocal test material and was calculated with the Rosin–Rammler equation. Data analysis involved a description of variable frequencies, as well as simple and multiple linear regression, and a confidence level set at 95%. The mean scores of dental pain-related behaviors were 1.14 (±1.90) points, and the mean X50 value was 3.96 mm (±1.34). In the multiple linear regression, a larger median size of the particles remained associated with a higher score of dental pain-related behaviors (β = +.81, p = .01); mouth breathing (β = +.22, p = .01); and a smaller number of masticatory units (β = −.22, p = .02). Greater dental pain-related behavior scores are associated with worse MP, regardless of the presence of associations with predominantly oral breathing and fewer chewing units.