Journal of Dentistry and Oral Care | Volume 5 | Issue 1 | 2019-10-22

A Comparative Study to Assess Taste Perception among Tobacco Chewers and Non-Chewers

Dr Yugandhara Kale

Abstract

Background: Impaired taste perception has impact on quality of life. Tobacco is a perilous factor that contributes to an impaired taste. Objective: To evaluate and compare taste perception among tobacco chewers and non-chewers. Materials and Method: 60 subjects (30 tobacco chewers + 30 non-chewers as controls) were enrolled in the study for evaluating taste perception. Taste identification time using four aqueous solutions of basic tastes sweet, salty, sour, bitter were recorded (in seconds) and compared between tobacco chewers and controls. The data was analyzed using student t test and ANOVA using SPSS 20.0 version software. Results: A statistically significant increase in taste identification time for salty taste in tobacco chewers (12.32 sec) was noted compared to non-chewers (10.21 sec) (p = 0.03). The average taste identification time was higher for tobacco chewers than non-chewers for sweet and salty taste. However, the average taste identification time was lower for tobacco chewers than non-chewers for sour and bitter taste. In non-chewers, the average taste identification time was 13.01 sec, 10.21 sec, 8.43 sec, 7.56 sec for sweet, salty, bitter and sour taste respectively. In tobacco chewers, the average taste identification time was 15.16 sec, 12.32 sec, 7.75 sec, 7.04 sec for sweet, salty, bitter and sour taste respectively. Conclusion: The findings from the study demonstrated marked decrease in taste perception to salty taste among tobacco chewers when compared to non- chewers. There is a significant difference in taste perception to basic tastes among tobacco chewers and controls.

Keywords: Tobacco, Basic tastes, Taste identification time, Taste perception