Oral Health in Parkinson’s Disease: How Long are we Going to Neglect it?

Parkinson’s Disease is a common neurological disorder characterized by a depletion of dopaminergic transmission at the level of the basal ganglia, impairing automatic movements, in speed and amplitude [1]. However, non-motor symptoms such as cognitive, autonomic, sleep-related and sensory dysfunctions are often reported. A subgroup of non-motor symptoms, oropharyngeal problems, also affects these patients in ways that greatly deteriorate quality of life.Patients with PD present several changes regarding injuries to the oral cavity. A typical finding is the presence of sialorrhea and, undoubtedly, alterations in the symbiosis of the oral flora [2]. Current studies have assessed the excessive prevalence of sialorrhea in (PD), in addition to its changes between “ON” and OFF “conditions over time and impact on health-related quality of life [3]. This symptom was directly related to the duration and severity of PD, more frequent in males and associated with dysphagia, hypomimia and autonomic dysfunction. Sialorrhea is more frequent in PD patients than controls, worsened in the “OFF” condition and after ~2 years of follow-up. PD are at risk for developing oral health injuries that can exacerbate or be exacerbated by other non-motor symptoms, such as mental health and dysphagia. These changes can decline in quality of life and even increases the risk of death by aspiration pneumonia [4].