DENTAL HEALTH…BELL’S PALSY

Jun 11, 2017 News

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By Dr. Neromini Fagu
It’s easy to take for granted some of the things that are automatically done by our body. Most of us don’t have to worry about the way our facial muscles work when we smile or when we are eating. However, for people with facial paralysis, simple tasks like these can be a source of great distress and anxiety. Bell’s Palsy, also known as “facial palsy” or “facial neuropathy”, was first described in 1821.
The condition was named after anatomist Charles Bell and is characterized by acute facial paralysis but to this day its cause remains unclear. Trauma, surgery, local infection, tumour and stroke account for about 25 percent of the cases while the remainder are considered viral and associated with ischemia and compression of the facial nerve in the area of the temporal bone.
Viruses that have been linked to Bell’s Palsy include the common cold sore virus – Herpes simplex; chickenpox and shingles – Herpes zoster; mononucleosis, Epstein-Barr; cytomegalovirus; adenovirus; rubella; mumps; influenza, especially influenza B; and hand-foot-and-mouth disease -Coxsackie virus. Regardless of underlying causes, the facial nerve swells and becomes inflamed, causing pressure within the canal of the skull.
The condition affects the facial nerve which is the seventh of the 12 cranial nerves present in our body. That nerve has two major functions, controlling the muscles of facial expressions and to conduct taste sensations from the anterior two-thirds of the tongue and oral cavity. In addition to facial muscles, the facial nerve affects tears, saliva, taste, and a bone in the middle ear.
Some of the signs and symptoms of Bell’s Palsy may include:
· Twitching, weakness, or paralysis on one side, or rarely both sides, of the face
· Drooping of the eyelid and dryness of the eye.
· Excessive tearing in one eye.
· Drooping corner of the mouth, drooling, dryness of the mouth (xerostomia)
· Ringing in one or both ears
· Hypersensitivity to sound
· Headache and dizziness
· Taste impairment
Men and women are affected equally and while Bell’s Palsy can occur at any age, it is less common before age 15 years or after age 60. It unequally affects persons who have diabetes or upper respiratory tract infections, or who are pregnant, especially during the third trimester. Most people affected by the condition will have full recovery within two months with or without treatment while a small number may experience permanent muscle weakness. The affliction can recur for unknown reasons, and may affect the same or opposite side of the face.
While Bell’s Palsy is not common, it does have a negative impact on oral health and affects every individual differently. The loss of muscle tone on the affected side may interfere with the person’s ability to chew food. This may lead to an increase in dental biofilm accumulation resulting in dental caries.
The affected muscles surrounding the eye may result in difficulty in closing the eyelid on the affected side. The eyelid may need to be taped closed at night, and protective eyewear must be used during dental treatment. To avoid drooling, people with facial paralysis usually chew all of their food on the unaffected side of their mouth which may result in jaw pain and disorders like temporomandibular joint dysfunction.
Treatment of people with Bell’s Palsy is multileveled and may include medications, patient education, facial reanimation treatment, neuromuscular retraining, home dental hygiene programmes, routine dental examination, and periodontal appliances.
Oral care regimen for affected individuals is crucial in order to avoid long term complications. Emphasis should be placed on the importance of twice daily brushing and flossing, therapeutic mouth rinse, and the need to rinse with water after eating so as to remove food particles that may be trapped in the cheek area of the affected side.
Dry mouth is a common occurrence of the condition. Saliva plays an important role for the health of the mouth by preventing tooth decay, cracked lips, rough tongue, bad breath, and it reduces the risk of infection on the tongue, cheeks and gums. To treat dry mouth, your dentist may recommend mouth rinses that have fluoride and may apply fluoride treatment during your dental visits.
On a lighter note, there have been many famous sufferers of Bell’sPalsy. You may be surprised at some of the names which include George Clooney, Pierce Bronsnan (James Bond actor), Sylvester Stallone, Katie Holms, Roseanne Barr, and Terrence Howard.

For more information contact OMNI DENTAL at 295 Quamina Street, Georgetown Tel: 227-0025, Parika Tel: 260-3133 or send emails to [email protected].

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