Abstract
Candida species commonly inhabit the oral cavity and are implicated in a variety of diseases.
Antifungal therapy is useful in the prevention and treatment of oral candidosis, and ismost important in keeping the oral cavity clean. There is a natural self-cleansing action of themouth. It is estimated that this action is influenced by diet. However the elderly tend to have asoft diet. The purpose of the present study is to investigate the relationship between the dietform, salivary flow rate and the quantities of Candida species on the dorsum of tongue.
In this study, the subjects were 46 women and 59 men who were in-patients suffering fromdementia or stroke, with ages ranging from 62-97 years (mean age 80). The coat of the tonguewas collected by the sterilized swab from the dorsum of tongue. The sample was evaluated bya simplified culture (STOMASTATTM). Whole saliva was stimulated by paraffin wax chewingand the flow rate was measured.
There were high candida levels in 24.5% of the solid diet group and 65.4% of the soft dietgroup.There was a significantly high candida level in the soft diet group.The salivary flowrate was significantly reduced in the soft diet group.These results indicate that taking a softdiet causes increased Candida species on the dorsum of the tongue.
