Author(s) :

Riya Rajesh.

Volume/Issue :

Abstract :

Currently, over 1.1 million Americans are fighting a daily battle with Parkinson’s disease (PD). PD is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor and nonmotor symptoms. In the United States, the economic burden of the disease is estimated to be $52 billion annually. Those numbers indicate the financial costs a society or individual incurs due to direct healthcare costs (medications and hospital visits) and indirect costs (expenses for caregivers and wages lost due to inability to work). Oral health is an essential aspect for high quality of life, but PD patients are at a disadvantage when it comes to maintaining their oral health. However, despite its importance, very few studies have investigated oral health in PD patients, largely overlooking this aspect of their well-being. This article examines how PD motor symptoms affect oral hygiene in patients. To obtain evidence for the effects of PD symptoms on oral hygiene, four studies were reviewed. These studies collectively show that oral health is compromised in PD patients with individuals facing difficulty chewing and swallowing, carrying out routine practices such as tooth brushing, and accessing dental care.