Eating habit patterns may predict maximum occlusal force: A preliminary study

Masticatory function is thought to be related to various eating habits, but it is difficult to evaluate overall masticatory function by assessing complex eating habits. Maximum occlusal force is an important indicator of masticatory function that is affected by age and sex. This preliminary study focused on the maximum occlusal force of young women and their eating habits, excluding food and nutritional factors, and investigated whether individual eating habits and eating habit patterns predict maximum occlusal force. We measured the maximum occlusal force for the whole dentition of 53 healthy young women before they ate lunch. The participants also completed a 12-item questionnaire about their eating habits. Scores were determined from the relationship between each item and increased maximum occlusal force. We found a significant but weak relationship between maximum occlusal force and some questions. The total questionnaire scores for the participants’ eating habits showed an almost normal distribution (mean ± standard deviation: 22.7 ± 2.6, median: 23.0, mode: 23.0, range of total scores: 17–28). The accuracy of the linear regression between the total scores for eating habits and maximum occlusal force was high but not perfect (β: standardized regression coefficient = 0.527, P < 0.001). Although further research is needed, our findings confirm that eating habit patterns are significantly associated with maximum occlusal force and may help predict occlusal force. Our results provide important information about eating patterns in humans.