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If you keep spilling food as you age... it's a sign that 'this muscle' has weakened

If you keep spilling food as you age... it's a sign that 'this muscle' has weakened

Story of Reporter Lim Min-young
 
 
If you keep spilling food as you age... it's a sign that 'this muscle' has weakened

As people age, some tend to frequently drool or make noises while eating. If these symptoms suddenly appear and chewing becomes uncomfortable, it could be a sign that the oral muscles have weakened. Ignoring weakening of the oral muscles can lead to various side effects, so caution is necessary.

 

As you age, oral muscles weaken more and more

 

The reason why chewing food is uncomfortable

Weakening of oral muscles or nerves

Brain diseases such as dementia and Parkinson's disease

There are issues such as tooth loss.

 

As people age, their muscles throughout the body gradually weaken due to aging, and their nerves also become weaker. At this time, the oral muscles and nerves related to chewing also weaken. Even if there are brain diseases such as dementia, Parkinson's disease, or stroke, symptoms of chewing discomfort may appear. This is because if the part of the brain responsible for chewing muscles and nerves is damaged, that area may not move well.

 

In addition, the decreasing number of teeth with age can also have an impact. According to data released by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, the number of teeth in healthy adults ranges from 28 to 32, but the average number of teeth among elderly people in Korea is only 16.29.

◇Frequently spilling food and becoming reluctant to eat

 

If there are difficulties with chewing, it is not only hard to chew food but also difficult to control the tongue, often causing food to spill out of the mouth. As a result, eating becomes burdensome, and meals are skipped.

 

As a result, foods with high nutritional density such as vegetables and meat are relatively difficult to chew, making it easy to fall into a state of malnutrition and dehydration. In particular, when elderly individuals experience nutritional imbalance, it can lead to sarcopenia, weakened immune function, delayed wound healing, and may increase mortality rates.

 

You can strengthen your muscles with spoon exercises.

 

If the symptoms are due to simple aging, exercises to strengthen the oral muscles can be helpful. A representative example is the "30-minute before meal spoon exercise." First, place a spoon with a long handle in ice water for about 1 minute. Then, put the cooled spoon into your mouth, press it against the inside of your cheek, and push outward five times. Repeat the same method on the other side. Practicing the pronunciation of "A," "E," "I," "O," and "U" frequently with your mouth open is also beneficial.

 

In addition, when eating, use a spoon or fork to take small bites slowly, and eat with your head slightly tilted downward to make chewing and swallowing easier. Drinking warm water instead of cold water also helps prevent muscle tension.

 

====================

 

It seems that the oral muscles are weakening.

 

Mom, you should try being my age too.

You keep spilling food, haha, you say jokingly.

This is because the muscles in the mouth have become weak.

 

You also share exercises to grow together.

Ah, E, O, U are not only for the mouth but also for

They say it's a good exercise for the skin of the inner muscles.

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Comments 7
  • Profile Image
    스쾃100
    나이가 들기전 미리해야 할게 많을까요?
    저작운동도 떨어지고 손근육도 떨어지고 나이가 드는게 두렵네요
    • Profile Image
      하루=즐겁게+행복하게+웃으며✌
      Author
      그런가봐요 
      나이가 들어다는 것이 겠죠
      그래도 건강하게 나이들고 싶네요 ㅎ
  • Profile Image
    숲과 나무
    하루님 반갑습니다 ^^
    음식 흘리는것도, 
    노력하면 되는거군요~ㅎㅎ
    이런 유익한 정보에 감사합니다 ^^
    
    • Profile Image
      하루=즐겁게+행복하게+웃으며✌
      Author
      ㅎㅎ 그러게요 엄마 말씀이 다 맞죠 
      건강도 챙기는것도 중요한네
      매일매일 습관들도 유심히 볼필요가 있네요
  • Profile Image
    천사의나팔
    그렇군요
    좋은 글 정보   잘 봤습니다.
    입운동도 겸해야겠네요 
  • Profile Image
    이하린
    다행히 아직 흘리진 않네요
    나이먹는것도 서러운데 ㅠ
  • Profile Image
    기춘이
    결국 이것도 근육문제였군요
    덕분에 알고 갑니다