Providing Evidence-based Oral Health Care to Individuals Diagnosed with Degenerative Disorders, Part 1: Multiple Sclerosis
What is Multiple Sclerosis (MS)?

Multiple Sclerosis (MS), one of the most common neurological disorders among young adults, is a chronic, inflammatory, immune-mediated disease of the central nervous system for which there is currently no cure. MS is a disease that results from individuals’ immune system attacking their central nervous system (brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves). When the immune system attacks the central nervous system, axons (nerve fibers) and myelin (fatty substance surrounding the nerve fibers) are damaged. This results in the damaged myelin forming scar tissue, commonly referred to as demyelination. Demyelination episodes are commonly referred to as relapses, exacerbations, attacks, or flare-ups. Demyelination is unpredictable and can trigger new symptoms or worsen old ones.

As a consequence of demyelination, nerve impulses, traveling through the central nervous system are distorted and interrupted causing a variety of visible and non-visible symptoms. The reduced efficiency of the nerve impulses produces motor and sensory abnormalities which can lead to fatigue, weakness, numbness, incoordination, imbalance, vision loss, bladder dysfunction, bowel dysfunction, difficulty speaking, and cognitive impairment. Symptoms vary from individual to individual and may resolve completely (remission) or remain and/or progress when scaring occurs (sclerosis).¹

MS affects approximately 400,000 individuals in the U.S. and 2.5 million individuals worldwide. Diagnosis generally occurs between the ages of 20 and 50; however, it can also occur in children.² The average age of MS disease onset is 30 years; though, this can vary widely depending on the type of MS and one’s gender. MS is more common in women than men with an estimated female to male incidence ratio of 1.4 to 2.3.³ There is evidence suggesting the incidence of MS in females is increasing.^4,5 It has been well documented the incidence and prevalence of MS varies geographically.^6,7 The frequency of disease is higher in the northern United States, southern Canada, Europe, New Zealand, and southeast Australia. Caucasian populations of European descent appear to be most at risk for developing the disease. In the United States the prevalence is 0.1%. Northern latitudes were once thought to increase the risk of developing MS; however, that notion has been dispelled in recent years.^3,4,8