Oral care in the dysphagic patient

Abstract

Biofilms are defined as matrix-enclosed bacterial populations adherent to each other and/or to surfaces or interfaces (Costerton et al. 1995). The mouth is moist and warm, and it can support the growth of several different bacteria, viruses, mycoplasmas, fungi, protozoa, and Archaea (Marsh and Martin 2009). These microorganisms will colonize dental and mucosal surfaces to form three-dimensional, multispecies, well-organized communities (biofilms).