Strategies for the prevention of periodontal disease and its impact on general health in Latin America. Section III: Prevention

Lip and tongue pressure and the functionality of oro-facial structures in healthy individuals

BACKGROUND

With the ageing process changes in the musculature of oro-facial structures take place, consequently there is a reduction in the strength and mobility of the lips, tongue and cheeks.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to correlate oro-facial structures and chewing and swallowing functions among a group of senior citizens and young adults and check the influence of lip and tongue pressure of these functions.

METHODS

This is an observational, cross-sectional and analytical study. Thirty seniors with an average age of 67.13 years and 30 young adults with an average age of 22.03 years participated in the study. The Oro-facial Myofunctional Assessment Protocol with Scores for the Elderly and the Oro-facial Myofunctional Assessment Protocol with Expanded Scores were also used. The evaluation of the force of pressure of the lips and tip and dorsum of the tongue was carried out using the Biofeedback device Pró-Fono: Lip and Tongue Pressure.

RESULTS

Young adults had a higher evaluation score for the aspect/posture of the face, cheeks, lips, mentalis muscle, tongue, mobility of lips, tongue, jaw and cheeks, chewing and swallowing functions, total time and chewing strokes, and tip pressure and dorsum of tongue. According to the Structural Equation Modelling, a direct relationship was found between the tongue dorsum pressure force and the swallowing function.

CONCLUSION

With healthy ageing changes occurring in the appearance, posture and mobility of the lips, tongue, jaw and cheeks, with the seniors and reduced performance of chewing and swallowing functions.

Acute Myocardial Infarction and Periodontitis: Importance of Awareness and Prevention in Latin America

By 2030, non-communicable diseases will have accounted for more than three-quarters of deaths worldwide. Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) have been the leading cause of death worldwide for several years. Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a CVD characterized by necrosis of the heart at the myocardial level due to prolonged ischemia caused by the reduction or sudden absence of coronary blood supply. The prevalence of AMI is higher in men at all ages. The incidence of AMI has decreased in industrialized nations; however, it has been on the rise in Latin America (LATAM) due to lifestyle changes. These changes have caused the combined incidence of CVDs and unresolved health concerns in LATAM, such as infections and malnutrition. It is well known that periodontitis, a highly prevalent chronic infectious inflammatory disease, has been associated with systemic diseases, such as diabetes, kidney diseases, and AMI. This review addresses proposed aspects of the correlation between periodontitis and AMI, explains the importance of preventing periodontitis and CVDs, and analyzes the preventative measures being implemented in LATAM, particularly in Mexico.

Periodontal diseases: is it possible to prevent them? A populational and individual approach

Periodontal diseases are infectious inflammatory chronic diseases of a multifactorial nature. They are primarily caused by dysbiotic ecological changes in dental biofilm, which may be influenced by risk factors. The prevention of periodontal diseases may involve different strategies focused on reducing distal, intermediate, and proximal risk factors at both the population and individual levels. Effective prevention depends on interdisciplinary and common risk factor approaches. Also, patient-centered preventive models are more effective than professional-centered models in the management of periodontal diseases. Regular and periodic control of dental biofilm is an essential measure for the different levels of prevention of periodontal diseases. The effectiveness of periodontal disease prevention largely depends on positive modifications of behavior, knowledge, health literacy, patient empowerment, motivation, and compliance.