The degree of tongue-coating reflects lingual motor function in the elderly.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to examine the relation between the degree of tongue-coating and oral function. BACKGROUND: Tongue-coating is a moss-like deposit which forms over the tongue surface, and includes micro-organisms, food residues, and abrasive epithelia. It is considered that motor function of the tongue and lips and saliva secretion decrease in the aged and have some effect on the accumulation of tongue-coating. Although saliva secretion has been reported as a factor amongst these oral functions in contributing to tongue-coating, the correlation with the motor function of oral structures is unknown. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The factors that contribute to the accumulation of tongue-coating were examined in 48 subjects of advanced age (mean age 80.8 +/- 7.8 years) with no severe levels of periodontal disease. Changes in the degree of tongue-coating were also examined after oral functional training in these subjects. The frequency of oral cleaning, status of oral hygiene, motor function of the tongue, and masticatory performance were examined as potential factors associated with the degree of coating. RESULTS: The results showed that tongue pressure and the frequency of oral diadochokinesis measured by pronouncing the single syllable 'ka' as an indicator were statistically significantly correlated with the degree of tongue-coating. Several factors in oral function improved with training, and also the degree of tongue-coating decreased in 27 subjects. CONCLUSION: These results suggest a correlation between the degree of tongue-coating and a reduction in lingual motor function and, in addition, possible improvement in level of coating by functional training of the tongue.

Effects of a palatal augmentation prosthesis on lingual function in postoperative patients with oral cancer: coronal section analysis by ultrasonography.

A palatal augmentation prosthesis (PAP) is used in postoperative patients with oral cancer as an intraoral appliance. The purpose of this study was to use ultrasound imaging to evaluate the effects of a PAP on lingual movement dynamics when postoperative patients with oral cancer swallowed food while wearing a PAP and to elucidate the effectiveness of the PAP. The subjects were seven patients with tongue cancer. They wore a PAP as an intraoral device to compensate for postoperative dysfunction after surgery for tongue cancer. The measurements were made by using ultrasonography. Ultrasound images of the lingual movement dynamics of the center of the tongue (central grooving of the tongue in a coronal plane, passing through the distal surfaces of both the left and right lower second premolars) during swallowing were obtained in M mode. The mean duration of lingual-palatal contact was 805.4 +/- 306.0 ms in patients without a PAP and 621.8 +/- 364.9 ms in those with a PAP. The duration decreased significantly in patients wearing a PAP (P = 0.03). The mean total duration of lingual movement was 1612.2 +/- 478.3 ms in patients without a PAP and 1245.6 +/- 272.5 ms in those with a PAP. The mean total duration decreased significantly in patients with a PAP (P = 0.03). The study results indicated that wearing an intraoral appliance may effectively help lingual movement on swallowing in postoperative patients with oral cancer.