Differences in Pain Threshold Values of Masseter and Temporalis Muscles Before and After Mastication

Objective: To analyze the differences in the pain thresholds of the masseter and temporalis muscles before and after chewing at the 5th and 10th minutes.  Material and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the pain thresholds of the muscles in both sides of 43 non-TMD subjects were measured using a digital algometer before and after chewing the bubble gum Xylitol for 5 and 10 min. The values of the muscles before and after mastication at the 5th and 10 th were analyzed using Repeated ANOVA. A difference in the values between the left and right sides of the muscles were analyzed using independent t-test, and among the age groups using one-way ANOVA.   Results: Average pain threshold values were 1.76 and 1.93 KgF/cm2 for the masseter and temporalis muscles. ANOVA tests indicated significant differences in the values of the muscles before and after mastication at the 5th and 10th min (p=0.000 vs. p 0.05) and among the age groups (p>0.05) showed no significant difference. However, the values between temporalis and masseter and the values between men and women for each session revealed a significant difference (p<0.05).  Conclusion: The masseter and temporalis pain threshold values were reduced 10 min after chewing. The values in both sides of the masseter and temporalis muscles and in different age groups were the same. The temporal muscle and men showed a higher pain threshold than the masseter muscle and women, respectively.