To determine the influence of oral status on halitosis, the relationship between halitosis and periodontopathic bacteria present in plaque on the tongue and the subgingival sulcus was examined in 62 periodontally healthy adults. Halitosis indicators used were the organoleptic score; gas chromatography results [total volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs) = H(2)S + CH(3)SH + (CH(3))(2)S]; Halimeter values; and the results of three clinical tests, plaque control record (PlCR), plaque index (PlI), and tongue coat status. Significant correlations with organoleptic scores was observed for PlCR, PlI, tongue coat status, VSC amounts, and Halimeter values, indicating that halitosis in periodontally healthy subjects tended to originate from tongue plaque deposits. Polymerase chain reaction analysis was used to detect six periodontopathic bacteria (Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, Tannerella forsythensis, and Treponema denticola) from the tongue and subgingival plaque. Significant effects on the organoleptic scores, tongue coat status, total VSC, H(2)S and CH(3)SH amounts, and Halimeter values were observed only for T. denticola and F. nucleatum and only in the tongue plaque, not in the subgingival plaque. Thus, therapies developed to inhibit the growth of these bacteria may lead to future treatments of halitosis.

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To identify factors associated with "morning breath" (physiological breath odor preceding breakfast) in healthy adults, we assessed breath odor, analyzed intraoral factors, and collected saliva and tongue coat samples incubated to ascertain the relationship between intraoral bacteria and breath odor. Subjects were 44 healthy men with a mean age of 24.1 years.The breath odor of each was assessed by an organoleptic test and quantified using a portable sulphide monitor (Halimeter RH-17 E(R)) and gas chromatography.Results were as follows: Breath odor was organoleptically detectable in all subjects. When subjects were categorized based on organoleptic tests, a significant difference was seen in Halimeter values and concentrations of 3 volatile sulphide compounds (VSCs) . A significant correlation was seen between organoleptic measurement and Halimeter values or VSC concentration.Among VSC concentrations, the correlation was highest between total VSC and hydrogen sulphide levels. Tougue coat scores and turbidity tended to increase with the organoleptic score. Higher tongue coat scores tended to be associated with greater turbidity.An increase in odor score coincided with a significant in counts for total bacteria, aerobic bacteria, streptococci, and anaerobic bacteria in the tongue coat. No significant differences in bacteria counts were seen, however, in saliva. Significant correlations existed between tongue coat score/turbidity and counts for total bacteria, aerobic bacteria, streptococci, and anaerobic bacteria in the tongue coat.Our findings suggest 3 broad conclusions: the tongue coat is the major contributor toward morning breath ; halitosis severity depends on the total number of bacteria in the tongue coat; and hydrogen sulphide is the primary component of halitosis.

The objective of this study was to measure the daily variation in oral malodor in 30 healthy young adults using a portable sulphide monitor (Halimeter (R) Model RH-17, Interscan, U.S.A.) and organoleptic score 5 times a day-before breakfast, after breakfast, before lunch, after lunch, and before dinner. Whole saliva flow without stimulation, saliva pH, dental plaque, and tongue coating status were also assessed for 8 of the subjects. There was no significant difference observed in the Volatile SulphurCompounds (VSC) between males and females. The measured values of oral malodor were influenced by meal, with the highest values found before breakfast. There were significant differences between tongue coating status andVSC before breakfast. No significant correlation was observed among VSC, dental plaque, and amount of saliva in the resting period. Results suggest that daily variation in oral malodor in the subjectsmay be caused mainly by changes in tongue coating status.

：The aim of this study was to investigate the smoking status and attitudes toward tobacco control among periodontists of the Japanese Society of Periodontology, a non-profit organization. The questionnaires to determine the smoking status and attitude towards the tobacco control policy were mailed to 861 periodontists. Four hundred thirty-five of them(53.3%), of whom 70.3% were in their 40s and 50s, returned the completed questionnaire. The respondents were divided into university staff(27.8%), university hospital staff(6.4%), general practitioners(61.6%), and others(3.0%). The sample included 225 non-smokers(51.7%), 140 ex-smokers(32.2%), and 64 smokers(14.7%). Of the respondents, 58.1 % agreed that patients with periodontal disease should not smoke and 81.7% agreed that periodontists should get a fee for managing nicotine dependence. Also, 76.8% thought that periodontists can easily assist patients to quit smoking. Of the total, 71.2% agreed that periodontists should not smoke and 60.3% of the periodontists indicated that periodontists knew their patients' smoking status. About 77.6% pointed out that the majority of patients with severe periodontitis smoked and 89.6% stated that the healing capacity in smokers was impaired. In addition, 69.3% had helped patients quit smoking. However, 22.7% said that they had not helped patients quit smoking, because they did not have the time, patients refused their support, they could not get insurance marks, or they did not know how to support patients in their efforts to quit smoking. Thus, it is necessary to understand that periodontists have a chance to help their patients quit smoking and that support by periodontists to patients to quit smoking is effective. Most periodontists would take more time to support patients in their efforts to quit smoking if dental insurance for such assistance were available.