Reduction of oral levels of volatile sulfur compounds (VSC) by professional toothcleaning and oral hygiene instruction in non-halitosis patients.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to determine the longitudinal effect of an oral hygiene program on oral levels of volatile sulfur compounds (VSC).


METHODS
The study subjects were randomly selected from patients attending a student course in operative dentistry and from staff members of our dental clinic. The test group (n = 30) received an oral hygiene training including professional toothcleaning (PTC), oral hygiene instruction, and motivation. The control group (n = 10) received no particular treatment. None of the subjects suffered from bad breath nor performed regular tongue cleaning. At baseline, immediately after PTC, one week, and four weeks thereafter we measured the oral hygiene status by means of the papillary bleeding index (PBI) and the oral concentrations of VSC by using a portable sulfide monitor (Halimeter).


RESULTS
Immediately after PTC, as well as one week, and four weeks after entering the program the PBI and the VSC-levels were significantly decreased as compared to the baseline values and the control group. VSCs were decreased by 34.9% (+/- 6.3) after PTC, 33.2% (+/- 7.1) one week, and 27.9% (+/- 5.8) four weeks thereafter.


CONCLUSIONS
The present study shows that in a group of patients without bad breath, an oral hygiene training program including professional toothcleaning, motivation and instruction of self-applied oral hygiene procedures is capable of reducing both papillary bleeding and oral levels of VSC Halimeter readings over the observation period of four weeks.
Seemann
Rainer
R
Department of Operative and Preventive Dentistry and Endodontics, Charité University Dental School, Berlin, Germany. rainer.seemann@charite.de
Passek
Gregor
G
Bizhang
Mozhgan
M
Zimmer
Stefan
S
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001944:Breath Tests; D003777:Dental Prophylaxis; D006209:Halitosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006267:Health Education, Dental; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000193:education* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009911:Oral Hygiene Index; D010512:Periodontal Index; D013457:Sulfur Compounds / Q000032:analysis*
D013457:Sulfur Compounds