Diet: consistence of food and relation with orofacial muscles

Both Dentists and Myofunctional Therapists want to prevent and to identify factors that predispose to stomatognathic system alterations. Objective: to correlate, in 68 children from 4 to 12 years of age, the firm solid food proportion in the diet (FSP) and the orofacial muscle tonus (OMT). Methods: from the data basis of Infantile Dentistry Clinic, the 5 days Alimentary Diary items were quantified according to their consistence to obtain the FSP and the number of feeding bottles (BN). Pacifier and/or digit sucking habits (SH) and the use of functional orthopedics of the maxillaries (FO) were also checked. OMT was evaluated by a speech and language therapist and considered appropriate or altered (flaccid or rigid), based on a protocol. Results: FSP average in the appropriate OMT group (45 children) was 21,53% and FSP average in the altered OMT group (23 children) was 13,43%. Spearman Correlation Analysis was statistically significant (p < 0,05) when OMT was correlated to: FSP, BN, SH and FO; it was also statistically significant when SH was correlated to: FSP and BN. As lower FSP, higher the frequency of altered OMT and of SH; in the presence of altered OMT there were higher frequencies of SH, BN and use of FO. Discussion: FSP and OMT are part of the complex cause-effect-aggravating relations of the stomatognathic system alterations. It suggests clinical investigation of the factors that contribute to low FSP and family orientation concerning the consistence of the diet. Conclusion: there was statistically significant correlation between the firm solid food proportion in the diet and orofacial muscle tonus.