Relationship between saliva production and oropharyngeal swallow in healthy, different-aged adults

We have evaluated the possible relationship between major salivary gland fluid secretion rate and characteristics of the oral phase of swallowing in 35 different-aged, healthy men and women. All subjects displayed normal function of the parotid and submandibular glands and oral swallow patterns on ultrasound evaluation that were comparable to previous reports. In this study group we found no significant relationships between salivary flow rates (unstimulated, stimulated) and any oral swallow measure. Evidence of a subtle, age-related oral motor change (multiple hyoid and tongue gestures) was seen but swallow duration times did not show a linear relationship to age. This study demonstrates that healthy individuals, despite a wide range in their salivary gland fluid secretory capacity, are generally similar in the characteristics of their oropharyngeal swallow.