ArticleAging clinical and experimental research2021
Simple oral exercise with chewing gum for improving oral function in older adults.
Article in Aging clinical and experimental research, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 17 papers, 5 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
17 citing papers in PubMed, 5 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 40 citations in OpenAlex.
- Interventions for Oral Frailty and Related Oral Functional Decline in Older Adults: A Systematic Review.Journal of oral rehabilitation · 2026Pooled it
- Comparative effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions for older adults with oral frailty: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.BMC geriatrics · 2026Pooled it
- Oral health care interventions on objective indicators of oral frailty in older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC oral health · 2026Pooled it
- Association of temporomandibular disorders and other jaw anomalies in chewing gum users-a systematic review.Journal of oral & facial pain and headache · 2025Pooled it
- The effect of gum chewing on xerostomia and salivary flow rate in elderly and medically compromised subjects: a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC oral health · 2023Pooled it
- Effect of oral functional exercise combined with psychological intervention on oral frailty in older adults.BMC oral health · 2025Trial
- Effect of Oral Health Education Using a Mobile App (OHEMA) on the Oral Health and Swallowing-Related Quality of Life in Community-Based Integrated Care of the Elderly: A Randomized Clinical Trial.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2021Trial
- Tablet Acceptability in Older Outpatients Undergoing Cancer Chemotherapy.Geriatrics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Chewing ability and its associated factors in maintenance hemodialysis patients: a cross-sectional study.BMC oral health · 2025Article
- Identifying Non-Traditional Approaches to Swallowing Rehabilitation: A Scoping Review.Dysphagia · 2024Article
- Effect of gum-chewing exercise on maintaining and improving oral function in older adults: A pilot randomized controlled trial.Journal of dental sciences · 2024Article
- Current developments and opportunities of pluripotent stem cells-based therapies for salivary gland hypofunction.Frontiers in cell and developmental biology · 2024Review
- Improvements in Maximum Bite Force with Gum-Chewing Training in Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial.Journal of clinical medicine · 2023Article
- Dental Care for Older Adults.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022Article
- Exercise as a multi-modal disease-modifying medicine in systemic sclerosis: An introduction by The Global Fellowship on Rehabilitation and Exercise in Systemic Sclerosis (G-FoRSS).Best practice & research. Clinical rheumatology · 2021Review
- Monitoring of Changes in Masticatory Muscle Stiffness after Gum Chewing Using Shear Wave Elastography.Journal of clinical medicine · 2021Article
- Influential Factors of Masticatory Performance in Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2021Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
7 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundAs general and oral health are closely interrelated, promoting oral health may extend a healthy life expectancy.
aimsTo evaluate the long-term effects of simple oral exercise (SOE) and chewing gum exercise on mastication, salivation, and swallowing function in adults aged ≥ 65 years.
methodsNinety-six participants were assigned to control, SOE, and GOE (chewing gum exercise with SOE) groups. The SOE comprised exercises to improve mastication, salivation, and swallowing function. Control group participants performed no exercises. The intervention period was 8 weeks, followed by a 3-week maintenance period. The Mixing Ability Index (MAI), occlusal force, unstimulated saliva, and repetitive saliva swallowing test were evaluated at baseline and 2, 5, 8, and 11 weeks later. Self-reported discomfort was re-evaluated after 8 weeks.
resultsAfter 8 weeks, mean MAI differences from baseline significantly increased in both groups; the increase in the GOE group was largest and four times higher than in the control group. Mean differences of occlusal force from baseline increased by 56 N (SOE group) and 60 N (GOE group). The increase of salivation was greater in the SOE (3.6-fold) and GOE (2.2-fold) groups than in the control group. Furthermore, 27% and 18% of SOE and GOE group participants, respectively, were re-categorized as having good swallowing function. Participants reported less discomfort as oral functions improved. DISCUSSION: These findings may facilitate the development of clinical practice guidelines for optimal oral care in older adults.
conclusionWhile both SOE and GOE may improve oral function in older adults, GOE is recommended for those with impaired mastication.
trial registrationKCT0003305, retrospectively registered 31/10/2018.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.