A Study on the Relationship Between Oral Malodor and Periodontal Disease

구취와 치주질환의 상관성에 관한 연구

Putrefactive activity within the oral cavity is the principal cause of halitosis. The most common intraoral sites of oral malodor production are tongue, interdental and subgingival areas. The other foci may include faulty restorations, sites of food impaction and abscesses. Periodontal disease frequently involves pathological oral malodor, which is caused mainly by volatile sulfur compounds(VSC), such as hydrogen sulfide, methyl mercaptan, and dimethyl sulfide. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the association between oral malodor and periodontal status. Volatile sulfur compounds in mouth air were estimated by portable sulfide monitor($Halimeter^{TM}$). The results were as follows : 1. The levels of volatile sulfur compounds were significantly greater in a periodontitis group than in a control group(P<0.01). The amounts of VSC in mouth air from patients with periodontal involvement were four times greater than those of the control group. 2. The significant positive correlation was found between VSC concentrations and the number of pocket depth above 4mm(P<0.01), but correlation between VSC concentrations and plaque score was not statistically significant(P>0.05). 3. In the periodontitis group, VSC concentrations of pre-treatment significantly decreased after scaling and root planing(P<0.01). 4. No statistically significant correlation was found between VSC concentrations and sex / age in the periodontitis group. The above results indicate that periodontal disease may play a role as an important factor of oral malodor and deep periodontal pockets are a source of volatile sulfur compounds.