Keeping teeth and gums healthy can be more challenging for those with
Parkinson's, due to the nature of its symptoms and to some of the medications
used to treat it.
Research shows that the most common problems related to the teeth and mouth
for those with Parkinson’s are:
-
difficulty
swallowing (dysphagia) – may result from reduced
muscle or lip control, or a dry mouth. If teeth are missing or poorly
looked after it can be difficult to chew food properly in preparation for
swallowing. Inflamed or bleeding gums, decayed fillings or faulty dental
fittings, such as bridges or dentures, can cause distress and make eating
and swallowing uncomfortable and painful
-
dry mouth
- may occur as a side effect of some Parkinson’s medications or because
the condition causes some people to swallow repetitively. This uses up the
saliva that is needed for comfortably swallowing food and smoothly moving
it through the throat and can result in a sore, rough or dry throat making
talking may be uncomfortable. As saliva contains antibodies that fight
infection, a dry mouth can increase the chance of tooth decay and gum
disease. A dry mouth may lead to dentures fitting poorly so that eating
becomes more difficult and uncomfortable. You may also experience a loss
of taste or a burning sensation in the mouth
-
drooling -
generally occurs as a result of poor posture and/or difficulty swallowing
the small amounts of saliva that are produced throughout the day. As
saliva builds up it may overflow from the sides of the mouth, often
causing soreness at the corners of the mouth and on the chin. Drooling can
be a very embarrassing symptom that can lead to people avoiding social
situations
-
difficulty
controlling dentures – causes include loss
of muscle tone, difficulty in controlling the facial muscles, dry mouth, pools
of saliva building up in the mouth, or poorly fitting/old dentures. A build-up
of plaque can also accelerate changes in the structure of the mouth and this
can lead to dentures not fitting properly. If you have poor control of your
dentures they may rub parts of your mouth and cause ulcers or blisters. These
can be painful and could lead to difficulties eating and speaking.
