Abstract
The differences in oral and pharyngeal kinetic patterns between smokers and non-smokers were studied. A flexible fiberscope, ultrasonograph and pressure transducers were used. Subjects were five smokers and six non-smokers. Multi-modal data were recorded simultaneously. Trial studies were carried out including phonation of /ka/sounds, long/S/sounds, humming, and inspiration and expiration before and after the data acquisition. The results were as follows: The movements of the tongue and soft palates were different for smokers and non-smokers while subjects were smoking a cigarette and/or a fake cigarette. In the case of smokers, the tongue and the soft palate touched at the beginning of smoking. After that, the tongue and the soft palate separated. On the other hand, while non-smokers were smoking a fake cigarette, the tongue and the soft palate did not touch each other. These findings were observed both in ultrasound images and intra-oral and pharyngeal pressure analyses. The contact of the tongue and soft palate in smokers briefly holds smokers within the oral cavity. This may be responsible for the high incidence of oral and pharyngeal cancer in smokers.
