Leukocytes in the edentulous mouth

Oral leukocytes were estimated in 55 edentulous persons wearing dentures by sequential mouthrinses. Forty-four subjects had clinically healthy-looking mouths and 11 had parital mild inflammation under the dentures. Leukocytes were found in the mouths of all subjects. The migratory rate in 30 sec in 44 subjects was 0.283 +/0 0.082 X 10(6) and in 11 subjects 0.570 +/- 0.147. The difference between the two groups was highly significant, P less than 0.001. The cell counts of the healthy edentulous mouth are comparable with the healthy dentulous mouth. The unexpected results raise the question of the origin of leukocytes in the edentulous mouth.