高齢者の年代､歯の状態および居住形態が咀嚼能力にいかなる影響を及ぼすのかを明らかにすることを目的として研究を行った｡咀嚼能力は､ｱﾝｹｰﾄ調査によるかみ合わせ評価度および咀嚼機能ｽｺｱと､色変わりﾁｭｰｲﾝｶﾞﾑを用いた a* 値から検討した｡その結果､年代が増すと咀嚼機能ｽｺｱおよび a* 値はともに低下した｡義歯の装着部分が増すと､また欠損歯を有すると咀嚼機能ｽｺｱおよび a* 値はいずれも低値を示した｡活動力の高い在宅の高齢者の咀嚼機能ｽｺｱおよび a* 値に比し､施設入所および通所の高齢者のそれらの値はともに低かった｡このことから､加齢､義歯数の増加､欠損歯を有することや日頃やわらかいものを食べることの多い食習慣はいずれも咀嚼能力の低下の要因となることが示唆された｡An investigation was made with the elderly to clarify what kinds of influence do teeth status and living style have on the chewing ability. The chewing ability was estimated based on the scores of teeth occlusion and chewing function evaluated through a questionnaire survey, and a* value determined using color-changeable chewing gum. Results of the present survey demonstrated that the scores of chewing function and a* value were both decreased with aging. When an area wearing a denture is increased or a missing teeth is present, the scores of both chewing function and a* value were lowered. The scores of chewing function and a* value were higher for the in-home elderly whose daily activity is high than the elderly living in care service facility or usually visiting it. These findings suggest that aging, an increase of the number of denture / the presence of missing teeth and eating habits to take soft foods might cause a lowering of chewing ability for the elderly
