title: Resting salivary flow independently associated with oral malodor.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dryness of the oral cavity is considered one cause of oral malodor. However, it is unclear which of the factors regulating the wetness of the oral cavity are involved in oral malodor development. This study investigated the effects of salivary flow and oral mucosal moisture on oral malodor.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study population comprised 119 patients (48 men and 71 women, mean age of 50.6 ± 15.4 years) with complaint of oral malodor. After the oral malodor level had been evaluated by the organoleptic test and gas chromatography, the rates of stimulated saliva and resting saliva and the moisture levels of the tongue and buccal mucosa were measured. The plaque index, bleeding on pocket probing, probing pocket depth, and tongue coating score were also assessed. Strong oral malodor was defined as an organoleptic test score of ≥3.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The flow rate of resting saliva in women was significantly lower than in men. The flow rate of resting saliva and the moisture levels of the tongue and buccal mucosa showed significant negative correlations with age. The flow rate of resting saliva was significantly lower in patients with strong oral malodor than in those with no or weak oral malodor. The flow rate of stimulated saliva and the moisture levels of the tongue and buccal mucosa had no relationship with strong oral malodor. Logistic regression analysis showed that a ≥5-mm probing pocket depth with bleeding on pocket probing, an increased tongue coating score, and decreased resting salivary flow were strong explanatory factors in clinical findings for oral malodor.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests that the flow rate of resting saliva is a significant modulating factor for oral malodor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive and Public Health Dentistry, Fukuoka Dental College, 2-15-1 Tamura, Sawara-ku, Fukuoka, 814-0193, Japan. naojsz@college.fdcnet.ac.jp.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.affiliation: Department of General Dentistry, Fukuoka Dental College, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fujimoto
authors.affiliation: Department of General Dentistry, Fukuoka Dental College, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yoneda
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive and Public Health Dentistry, Fukuoka Dental College, 2-15-1 Tamura, Sawara-ku, Fukuoka, 814-0193, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.affiliation: Department of General Dentistry, Fukuoka Dental College, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hirofuji
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive and Public Health Dentistry, Fukuoka Dental College, 2-15-1 Tamura, Sawara-ku, Fukuoka, 814-0193, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hanioka
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D005260:Female; D006209:Halitosis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009061:Mouth Mucosa; D012463:Saliva; D014059:Tongue
keywords: Mucosal moisture; Oral malodor; Periodontitis; Resting saliva; Stimulated saliva; Tongue coating