Laryngeal dysfunction and oral hygiene: Any relation?

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Dental Medicine
• Speech-Language Pathology

Background:

• Oral hygiene is crucial for overall health.
• Laryngeal dysfunction can significantly impact voice quality.
• The relationship between oral health and laryngeal function requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between poor oral hygiene and laryngeal dysfunction in adults.
• To compare laryngeal function parameters between individuals with good and poor oral hygiene.

Main Methods:

• 43 adult patients were categorized into good (OHI-S 0-1) and poor (OHI-S 2-3) oral hygiene groups.
• Laryngeal function was assessed using laryngostroboscopy, aerodynamic measures (maximum phonation time - MPT, s/z ratio), and pitch level.
• Exclusion criteria included GERD, LPR, pre-existing laryngeal conditions, systemic diseases, and smoking.

Main Results:

• Patients with poor oral hygiene exhibited significantly lower average MPT values (p<0.01).
• The poor oral hygiene group showed a higher incidence of supraglottic involvement (p<0.05) and impaired glottic closure compared to the control group.
• Normal closure phase incidence was higher in the good oral hygiene group (p<0.05).

Conclusions:

• Poor oral hygiene is associated with impaired glottic closure, supraglottic involvement, and reduced MPT.
• These findings correlate with laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) indicators, suggesting a potential link.
• Maintaining good oral hygiene may be important for preventing or managing laryngeal dysfunction and related conditions like LPR.