IADR Abstract Archives
Association Between Bacteria on the Tongue Dorsum and Oral Malodor
Objectives: Oral malodor is thought to originate primarily from tongue microbiota which produce volatile sulfur compounds. This study aimed to investigate the association between oral malodor and tongue periodontal pathogens including Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg), Tannerella forsythia (Tf) and Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn).
Methods: Oral malodor was assessed by levels of hydrogen sulfide (HS), methyl mercaptan (MM) and dimethyl sulfide (DS) measured by a portable gas chromatography. Subjects were then divided into two groups: malodor (25 subjects) and non-malodor/healthy group (25 subjects) matched by age and sex. Bacterial samples were collected from tongue dorsum coating following by real-time PCR analysis for Pg, Tf and Fn. Clinical parameters were recorded including tongue coating index, tongue discoloration index, gingival index, plaque index and non-stimulated salivary flow.
Results: Only Pg was present with significant difference between malodor group (56%) and healthy group (16%) (p<0.05). The proportions of Pg exhibited strong correlation with HS level (r=0.77, p<0.01) and moderate correlation with gingival index (r=0.43, p<0.05) in malodor group. The proportions of Tf was significantly higher in malodor group than healthy group. In malodor group, the proportions of Tf exhibited strong correlation with MM level (r=0.72, p<0.001) and moderate correlation with HS level (r=0.53, p<0.01) and DS level (r=0.43, p<0.05). Fn was present in all 50 specimens and the proportion of Fn was not significantly different between two groups. Tongue coating index, tongue discoloration index and plaque index of malodor group were significantly higher than healthy group (p<0.05).
Conclusions: Pg and Tf may contribute greatly to volatile sulfur compound production resulting in oral malodor; higher proportion of Pg and Tf is associated with more severe malodor condition. The association between Fn and oral malodor was not found in this study. Plaque and tongue indexes may be used as aids in oral malodor diagnosis where there are not sulfide detector.
Methods: Oral malodor was assessed by levels of hydrogen sulfide (HS), methyl mercaptan (MM) and dimethyl sulfide (DS) measured by a portable gas chromatography. Subjects were then divided into two groups: malodor (25 subjects) and non-malodor/healthy group (25 subjects) matched by age and sex. Bacterial samples were collected from tongue dorsum coating following by real-time PCR analysis for Pg, Tf and Fn. Clinical parameters were recorded including tongue coating index, tongue discoloration index, gingival index, plaque index and non-stimulated salivary flow.
Results: Only Pg was present with significant difference between malodor group (56%) and healthy group (16%) (p<0.05). The proportions of Pg exhibited strong correlation with HS level (r=0.77, p<0.01) and moderate correlation with gingival index (r=0.43, p<0.05) in malodor group. The proportions of Tf was significantly higher in malodor group than healthy group. In malodor group, the proportions of Tf exhibited strong correlation with MM level (r=0.72, p<0.001) and moderate correlation with HS level (r=0.53, p<0.01) and DS level (r=0.43, p<0.05). Fn was present in all 50 specimens and the proportion of Fn was not significantly different between two groups. Tongue coating index, tongue discoloration index and plaque index of malodor group were significantly higher than healthy group (p<0.05).
Conclusions: Pg and Tf may contribute greatly to volatile sulfur compound production resulting in oral malodor; higher proportion of Pg and Tf is associated with more severe malodor condition. The association between Fn and oral malodor was not found in this study. Plaque and tongue indexes may be used as aids in oral malodor diagnosis where there are not sulfide detector.