Multiple Sclerosis: Impact on Oral Hygiene, Dysphagia, and Quality of Life

Francesco Covello, Giovanni Ruoppolo, Camilla Carissimo, Giulia Zumbo, Carla Ferrara, Antonella Polimeni and Iole Vozza
Additional contact information
Francesco Covello: Oral and Maxillo-Facial Sciences Department, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
Giovanni Ruoppolo: Sensorial Organs Department, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
Camilla Carissimo: Oral and Maxillo-Facial Sciences Department, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
Giulia Zumbo: Oral and Maxillo-Facial Sciences Department, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
Carla Ferrara: Public Health and Infectious Diseases Department, Section Health Statistics, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
Antonella Polimeni: Oral and Maxillo-Facial Sciences Department, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
Iole Vozza: Oral and Maxillo-Facial Sciences Department, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 11, 1-9

Abstract: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system reacts by damaging the central nervous system, specifically myelin and oligodendrocytes. It is the most debilitating neurological disease among young adults, causing personal, familiar, social, and professional limitations. Multiple sclerosis can cause disturbances in the orofacial district, due to a demyelination process on the nerves of the head and neck district. The aim of this study was to evaluate the oral health status, dysphagia, and quality of life of patients affected by MS. For this study, 101 patients aged between 12 and 70 (47 males, 54 females) affected by MS were selected, and three questionnaires were handed out and anonymously filled in by them: An oral hygiene test, DYMUS (DYsphagia in MUltiple Sclerosis), and IOHIP-14 (Italian version Oral Health Impact Profile). Through the analysis of the questionnaires it was possible to observe pathological conditions, such as gingival inflammation, xerostomia, dysphagia, neuralgia, and dysarthria. Through the analysis it was possible to outline how the roles of a medical team, composed of a dentist, otolaryngologist, and dental hygienist, are fundamental in coping with other medical figures, during the whole development of the diseases, as well as to prevent possible complications.

Keywords: multiple sclerosis; dysphagia; oral health; oral hygiene (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/11/3979/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/11/3979/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:11:p:3979-:d:367144

Access Statistics for this article

IJERPH is currently edited by Ms. Jenna Liu

More articles in IJERPH from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().