Oral Manifestations of Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Oral Medicine
• Autoimmune Diseases

Background:

• Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic central nervous system autoimmune disease with varied symptoms.
• Oral manifestations in MS patients can stem from the disease itself or its treatments.
• Symptoms like xerostomia, periodontal disease, and dental sensitivity impact quality of life and are often overlooked.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review oral manifestations in multiple sclerosis patients.
• To assess the prevalence and significance of these oral symptoms.
• To explore correlations between oral symptoms and MS clinical parameters (phenotype, duration, disability).

Main Methods:

• Systematic review adhering to PRISMA guidelines.
• Database search (PubMed, Scopus) for observational studies on MS and oral manifestations (last 10 years).
• Quality assessment using Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and JBI Critical Appraisal checklist.

Main Results:

• Ten studies were included, identifying hyposalivation, gingival inflammation, high DMFT/plaque indices, dental sensitivity, and oral pain as common.
• Significant associations found between oral dryness and MS phenotype (p < 0.05).
• Periodontal health showed significant links to disability levels (p < 0.05).

Conclusions:

• A clear association exists between MS and oral health issues, notably xerostomia and periodontal disease.
• Multidisciplinary care is essential for managing oral health in MS patients.
• Further research with standardized protocols is needed to clarify oral-systemic interactions in MS.