Abstract
Among all of the feeding functions, lips play an important role.
The purpose of this study was to clarify the process of the functional development of the lips. In this context, we measured lip pressure at the moment of food taking in two healthy children periodically from the weaning period up to 36 months of age. Pressure measurements were obtained with a strain gauge transducer embedded in a spoon.
1. The average lip pressure in Subject A increased steadily as he grew, up to 36 months of age. A similar result appeared in the cross study of a normal group by Chigira.
2. Unlike Subject A, the lip pressure of Subject B was already strong at 5 months of age and remained unchanged until he became almost 36 months old, showing some increase.
3. The inability rate of food taking dropped suddenly as they turned 30 months of age.
4. The development of lips function at feeding seems to be related to the eruption of the deciduous teeth.
