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Oral Biofilm Sampling for Microbiome Analysis in Healthy Children
Published on: December 31, 2017
Oral microbiota in Swiss adolescents
Sigrun Eick1, Malgorzata Pietkiewicz, Anton Sculean
1Department of Periodontology, Dental School, University of Bern, Freiburgstrasse 7, CH-3010, Bern, Switzerland.
Clinical Oral Investigations
|February 29, 2012
Summary
Gingivitis is common in Swiss adolescents, with periodontitis absent. Oral bacteria linked to gum disease were found in plaque and on the tongue, indicating the tongue as a potential reservoir.
Area of Science:
- Oral microbiology
- Periodontology
- Adolescent oral health
Background:
- Gingivitis and periodontitis are prevalent oral conditions.
- Adolescent oral microbiome composition is crucial for long-term health.
- Understanding oral microbial distribution is key to prevention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of oral microbes in gingival plaque and on the tongue in Swiss adolescents.
- To investigate the association between oral bacteria and clinical parameters like gingival inflammation.
Main Methods:
- Studied 99 adolescents (15-18 years) in Switzerland.
- Assessed plaque index, bleeding on probing (BOP), and DMFT index.
- Analyzed subgingival plaque and tongue swabs using DNA-DNA hybridization and real-time PCR for specific bacteria.
Main Results:
- Gingivitis (mean BOP 28%) was common; periodontitis was not diagnosed.
- Periodontopathic bacteria like Porphyromonas gingivalis, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, and Tannerella forsythia were detected.
- Treponema denticola and Streptococcus mutans favored gingival plaque, while T. forsythia was found on the tongue.
Conclusions:
- Gingivitis is frequent in Swiss adolescents, but periodontitis is not.
- The tongue's dorsum serves as a significant reservoir for periodontopathic bacteria.
- Clinical parameters like DMFT and BOP correlate with specific bacterial counts.
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