Changes of Halitosis during the Menstrual Cycle

월경주기와 구취의 변화에 관한 연구

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the relationship of menstrual cycle and halitosis by measuring the concentrations of Voltile Sulfur Compounds, secretion rate of unstimulated saliva, secretion rate of stimulated saliva and viscosity of saliva during the menstrual cycle. The subjects were 19 female dental students of Yonsei University who had relatively good alignment of the teeth. They hadn't taken antibiotics or oral contraceptive pills during the few months prior to the experiment, and they didn't have any dental caries involving the pulp or periodontal disease. Lady-$Q^{(R)}$(Alpain Korea, Korea), which confirms the ovulation using saliva, was used to find out the menstrual cycle of subjects. Their history was taken and their basal body temperature was measured. On the basis of these data, the amount of Volatile Sulfur Compounds, secretion rate of unstimulated saliva, secretion rate of stimulated saliva, viscosity of saliva were measured during 1 day of the proliferative phase, 3 days of ovulatory phase and 1 day of the luteal phase within the menstrual cycle. The results were as follows : 1. The amount of Volatile Sulfur Compounds, secretion rate of unstimulated saliva, secretion rate of stimulated saliva, and viscosity of saliva showed no statistically significant cyclic change during proliferative phase, ovulatory phase, and luteal phase(p<0.05). 2. Between the secretion rate of unstimulated saliva and secretion rate of stimulated saliva, there was significant correlation during proliferative phase and luteal phase(p<0.05) and there was no significant correlation during ovulatory phase but relatively close result was seen. 3. The amount of Volatile Sulfur Compounds during proliferative phase and luteal phase had statistically significant correlation(p<0.05). 4. Secretion rate of stimulated saliva during proliferative phase and ovulatory phase, proliferative phase and luteal phase, ovulatory phase and luteal phase had significant correlations (p<0.01).