Issei Saitoh1, Emi Inada2, Yasutaka Kaihara3, Yukiko Nogami4, Daisuke Murakami2, Naoko Kubota2, Kaoru Sakurai3, Yoshito Shirazawa2, Tadashi Sawami4, Miyuki Goto5, Maki Nosou6, Katsuyuki Kozai3, Haruaki Hayasaki4, Youichi Yamasaki2. 1. Division of Pediatric Dentistry, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Science, Niigata University, 2-5274 Gakkocho-dori, Chuo-ku, Niigata 951-8514, Japan. Electronic address: isaito@dent.niigata-u.ac.jp. 2. Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, 8-35-1 Sakuragaoka, Kagoshima 890-8544, Japan. 3. Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Hiroshima University Hospital, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 734-8553, Japan. 4. Division of Pediatric Dentistry, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Science, Niigata University, 2-5274 Gakkocho-dori, Chuo-ku, Niigata 951-8514, Japan. 5. Shinonome Elementary School attached to Hiroshima University, 3-1-33 Shinonome, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 734-0022, Japan. 6. Department of Public Oral Health Integrated Health Sciences Hiroshima University Institute of Biomedical & Health Sciences, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 734-8553, Japan.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Mouth breathing syndrome (MBS) is defined as a set of signs and symptoms that may be completely or incompletely present in subjects who, for various reasons, replace the correct pattern of nasal breathing with an oral or mixed pattern. It is important to identify the relevant factors affecting MBS in order to diagnose its cause since breathing obstructions can result from multiple factors. The purpose of this study is to clarify the relevant factors and the interrelationships between factors affecting MBS among children. DESIGN: We surveyed 380 elementary school children from 6 to 12 years in age. The questionnaire consisted of 44 questions regarding their daily health conditions and lifestyle habits and was completed by the children's guardians. A factor analysis was performed to classify closely related questions into their respective factors and to examine the strength of the correlation between the newly revealed factors. RESULTS: Twenty-six out of the 44 questions were selected, and they were classified into seven factors. Factors 1-7 were defined as "Incompetent lip seal", "Diseases of the nose and throat", "Eating and drinking habits", "Bad breath", "Problems with swallowing and chewing", "Condition of teeth and gums", and "Dry lips", respectively. There were also correlations between these factors themselves. CONCLUSION: MBS was categorized according to 7 major factors. Because Factor 1 was defined as "Incompetent lip seal", which was representative of the physical appearance of mouth breathers and correlated with other factors, we suggested that MBS should consist of 7 factors in total.
OBJECTIVE:Mouth breathing syndrome (MBS) is defined as a set of signs and symptoms that may be completely or incompletely present in subjects who, for various reasons, replace the correct pattern of nasal breathing with an oral or mixed pattern. It is important to identify the relevant factors affecting MBS in order to diagnose its cause since breathing obstructions can result from multiple factors. The purpose of this study is to clarify the relevant factors and the interrelationships between factors affecting MBS among children. DESIGN: We surveyed 380 elementary school children from 6 to 12 years in age. The questionnaire consisted of 44 questions regarding their daily health conditions and lifestyle habits and was completed by the children's guardians. A factor analysis was performed to classify closely related questions into their respective factors and to examine the strength of the correlation between the newly revealed factors. RESULTS: Twenty-six out of the 44 questions were selected, and they were classified into seven factors. Factors 1-7 were defined as "Incompetent lip seal", "Diseases of the nose and throat", "Eating and drinking habits", "Bad breath", "Problems with swallowing and chewing", "Condition of teeth and gums", and "Dry lips", respectively. There were also correlations between these factors themselves. CONCLUSION:MBS was categorized according to 7 major factors. Because Factor 1 was defined as "Incompetent lip seal", which was representative of the physical appearance of mouth breathers and correlated with other factors, we suggested that MBS should consist of 7 factors in total.