Oral bacteria and dental hygiene in individuals with dysphonia

Abstract

The association of oral bacteria with various kinds of systemic diseases has been well studied, especially for pneumonia. With a close physical proximity between lung and vocal folds, a possibility of bacterial involvement in development of vocal fold lesion among dysphonic patients is proposed. Along with past research that supported a linkage between poorer oral hygiene and less satisfactory glottal efficiency, this study aimed to be the first paper in investigating the discrepancy in oral bacterial composition, dental hygiene condition and habit across dysphonic and vocally healthy subjects. Actinomyces naeslundii, a kind of common oral pathogenic bacteria known to associate with periodontitis and some cases of vocal fold actinomycosis, was chosen to be the target of analysis in this current study. The results shown that the bacterial count of A. naeslundii was significantly higher in the dysphonic group, along with a poorer periodontal condition and lesser number of people engaged in the habit of using dental floss. Indications of these factors are discussed.