Table 1.

Alterations that may be encountered in the oral preparation of swallowing

Alteration	Consequence
Reduced lip closure	Sialorrhea and food leaking out of the mouth
Limited jaw movements	Total or partial chewing disfunction
Lip, cheek and anterior 2/3rd of the tongue sensitivity disorders	Pooled foods between cheeks and gums and difficulty in managing the bolus
Alterations in anteroposterior, lateral and vertical tongue movements	Difficulty in forming the bolus with possible falling and consequent aspiration
Reduced forward movement range of the soft palate	Possible leak of food into the pharynx and aspiration into the respiratory tract