The relationship between volatile sulphur compounds, tongue coating and periodontal disease

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to observe the casual levels of volatile sulphur compounds (VSC) in volunteers with different clinical scores of tongue coating, periodontal pockets depth and Gingival Bleeding Index. Seventy-two subjects who attended for the first time at the dental clinic of the University were randomly selected for intra-oral and periodontal examinations. Systemic and dental histories were also obtained. The subjects were unaware of all procedures. The level of VSC was assessed by using a portable sulphide monitor (Halimeter; Interscan Co., Chatsworth, CA, USA). High tongue coating levels were related with more VSC counts (multivariate anova, P = 0.01). No statistically significant relation (multiple linear regression, P > 0.05) was observed among the VSC levels considering age, bleeding and periodontal pockets sites (depth > 4 mm). We concluded that the tongue coating was one of the main factors influencing the VSC levels.