Oral Health and Dental Management

Abstract

Evaluation of some factors affecting taste perception

Umit Kiymet Akal, Cagri Delilbasi, Tamer Yilmaz, Enis Redzep, Durdu Sertkaya

The sense of taste is one of the most important human senses. Alteration in taste perception is crucial
because it influences dietary habits and general health. In this study, we evaluated the influences
of some physiological and external factors on taste perception such as gender, smoking, dietary
habits and role of saliva in a group of young people. Twenty young subjects (mean age 25.2) were
enrolled for the study. A whole-mouth, above threshold test and a spatial taste test were performed
using four basic tastes (sweet, salty, sour, bitter). There was no significant difference in taste threshold
concerning gender (p > 0.10), but a significant relation was found between the number of cigarettes
per day and an increase in threshold for sweet taste (p<0.10). There was a significant relation
between the frequency of salty food consumption and increase in threshold for bitter taste (p < 0.10).
No significant difference was found between wet and dry mouth in spatial test (p > 0.10). This study
suggests further researches, investigating various factors influencing taste perception.