Dysphagia in adults and its relationship with oral health and dental treatment

Dysphagia is the medical term for swallowing problems and is defined as “difficulty in swallowing or impairment in the movement of swallowed material from the pharynx to the stomach”. Normal swallowing occurs in the following three phases: 1.Oral – the conversion of food into a bolus that is then transported to the back of the oral cavity. 2.Pharyngeal – pharyngeal swallow is rapid and sequential, occurring within seconds, propelling the bolus through the pharynx into the oesophagus. The larynx and trachea are protected from the pharynx during food passage to prevent the food from entering the airway. Breathing stops momentarily to allow the vocal folds to come together. 3.Oesophageal – peristalsis transports the bolus through the oesophagus, and the lower oesophageal sphincter opens as the bolus approaches the stomach.