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The Relationship Between Volatile Sulfur Compounds and Major Halitosis‐Inducing Factors
Author(s) -
Lee ChaeHoon,
Kho HongSeop,
Chung SungChang,
Lee SungWoo,
Kim YoungKu
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of periodontology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.036
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1943-3670
pISSN - 0022-3492
DOI - 10.1902/jop.2003.74.1.32
Subject(s) - tongue , interdental consonant , dentistry , periodontitis , coating , medicine , chemistry , pathology , organic chemistry
Background: Although tongue coating and periodontal conditions have been reported to be major halitosis‐inducing factors, the relationship between volatile sulfur compounds (VSC) and these 2 major factors is not yet fully understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship of VSC concentrations to tongue coating and periodontal health. Methods: Forty subjects (mean age 33.3 years, range 14 to 64 years) were enrolled in this study. Gas chromatography was performed to analyze each VSC component from the mouth air sampled prior to tongue scraping, after tongue scraping, and after a subsequent prophylaxis on the interdental spaces. Results: CH 3 SH was the most malodorous component among the 3 major VSC from the mouth air. The high CH 3 SH group showed a significantly higher organoleptic rating ( P <0.01), gingival index ( P <0.01), bleeding index ( P <0.01), probing depth ( P <0.05), and VSC concentrations prior to tongue scraping ( P <0.01), except for the amount of tongue coating, compared to the low CH 3 SH group. All VSC concentrations were vastly reduced by tongue scraping in both groups, and the remaining contents were nearly all removed by the subsequent prophylaxis. The VSC contents produced by the tongue coating played a major role [H 2 S: 76%; CH 3 SH: 52%; (CH 3 ) 2 S: 55%] in the low CH 3 SH group. In the high CH 3 SH group which had poor periodontal health, the tongue coating still played a major role [H 2 S: 67%; CH 3 SH: 59%; (CH 3 ) 2 S: 48%], but the interdental spaces also contributed to VSC production [H 2 S: 26%; CH 3 SH: 32%; (CH 3 ) 2 S; 36%]. Conclusions: The tongue coating was demonstrated to be a primary halitosis‐inducing factor. Periodontal health was also shown to contribute to VSC production. J Periodontol 2003;74:32‐37.