Detection and measurement of oral malodor in chronic periodontitis patients and its correlation with levels of select oral anaerobes in subgingival plaque

INTRODUCTION: Oral malodor is generally ascribable to oral microbial putrefaction generating malodorous volatile sulfur compounds. The aim of the present study is to correlate organoleptic recordings with a small handheld portable volatile sulfide monitor and periodontal clinical parameters and correlate the levels of halitosis causing bacteria in plaque between baseline, 1-week, and 1-month. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 20 systemically healthy subjects with self-reported halitosis were subjected to organoleptic examination and FitScan(®). Subgingival plaque samples for anaerobic culturing were harvested followed by an assessment of plaque index (PI), gingival bleeding index (GBI), and pocket probing depth. Data derived were subjected to statistical analysis using Wilcoxon signed rank test and Spearman's rank test (P < 0.05). RESULTS: No correlation was seen between organoleptic measurements and portable volatile sulfide monitor at any time interval. There was a statistically significant (P < 0.05) correlation between the scores of PI, gingival index, GBI, and myeloproliferative disease with organoleptic readings at all-time intervals. Anaerobic culture has shown to identify Fusobacterium species, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, Tannerella forsythia. However, no correlation could be established in between total microbial load with organoleptic and FitScan(®) reading at any time interval (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Significant correlation could be established between organoleptic readings and periodontal parameters.