Effects of Singing on Oral Function, Stress, and Immunity

Abstract

Background:We previously reported that singing can improve mental health and oral function. Since the results were based on one singing session, further investigation was required. Therefore, we assessed the effects of daily singing on oral and immune/endocrine function in two studies.Methods: Thirteen subjects (five men, eight women) with a mean age of 51.3 years (standard deviation [SD] = 13.0) and 17 subjects (six men, 11 women) with a mean age of 46.8 years (SD = 8.0) participated in study 1 and study 2, respectively. The effects of singing on oral function, immunity, and stress were determined by performing a swallowing function test, oral cavity examination, blood and saliva tests, and questionnaires before and after the singing period.Results: Both chewing and swallowing showed significant improvement with singing (study 1), and saliva production also improved significantly with singing (study 2). In study 1, immunological analysis showed a significant increase of T cells, B cells, CD4+ T cells, and CD8+ T cells with singing, and immunity scores increased significantly from week 4 through week 8 compared to before singing. The mood and emotional state of the participants (visual analog scale) improved in both studies, along with reduction of cortisol and adrenaline, which are indicators of psychological stress. Levels of lipid peroxide and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine, markers of oxidative stress, were also reduced in both studies. Conclusions:Singing effectively promotes oral function, including saliva secretion and muscle strength, and reduces psychological stress. Singing may also improve immune function and reduce oxidative stress.

Singing Habit Potentially Prevents the Oral Frailty of Japanese Healthy Middle-Aged and Elderly Individuals

“…Regarding the associations of repeated singing with oral condition, singing for 4 or 8 weeks increased the secretion of saliva, improved chewing and swallowing, and immune functions, and reduced physiological stress and oxidative stress, suggesting that singing habit can improve the mental health and oral condition of the elderly (Sakano et al, 2018). To our knowledge, however, we are the first to have investigated the associations of singing habit with oral frailty by assessing the OFI-8 scores.…”