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Updated: Dec 12, 2025
Oral Biofilm Sampling for Microbiome Analysis in Healthy Children
Published on: December 31, 2017
Microbiome variations in preschool children with halitosis
Yu Zhang1,2,3, Ce Zhu1,2,3, Xiping Feng1,2,3
1Department of Preventive Dentistry, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Insights
Intra-oral halitosis in Chinese preschool children is linked to complex interactions among oral bacteria, not just diversity. Specific bacterial species show altered proportions in children with halitosis.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Oral Health
- Pediatric Dentistry
Background:
- Intra-oral halitosis is a common concern in children.
- Understanding the microbial basis of halitosis in preschool-aged children is crucial for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the bacterial characteristics associated with intra-oral halitosis in Chinese preschool children.
- To identify specific microbial communities and species linked to halitosis in this demographic.
Main Methods:
- An epidemiological study involving 273 preschool children (aged 3-4 years) in Shanghai.
- 16S rRNA gene sequencing was used to characterize microbial communities from tongue coating samples of healthy and halitosis participants.
Main Results:
- Halitosis was present in 13.2% of the children studied.
- No significant difference in overall microbial diversity was found between groups.
- Specific bacterial species, including Leptotrichia sp. HMT_417, Prevotella Pallens, and Alloprevotella rava, were more abundant in the halitosis group.
Conclusions:
- Halitosis in preschool children is associated with multi-microbial interactions.
- Oral microorganisms can have potentiating or inhibiting effects on each other, contributing to halitosis.
Objective:
To assess the bacterial characteristics associated with intra-oral halitosis among Chinese preschool children.
Methods:
An epidemiological study was conducted among 273 preschool children (aged 3-4 years) in Shanghai, China, followed by the collection of 16 samples from the tongue coating of caries-free healthy and halitosis participants. The characterization of associated microbial communities was performed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing on the MiSeq.
Results:
Halitosis was observed in 13.2% of the preschool children. No significant difference in terms of microbial diversity (p > .05) was detected in the control and halitosis groups. The dominant bacterial genera observed in both groups included Prevotella, Veillonella, Streptococcus, Neisseria, Actinomyces, Haemophilus, and Leptotrichia. The relative proportions of thirteen species (including Leptotrichia sp. HMT_417, Prevotella Pallens, and Alloprevotella rava) were significantly higher in the halitosis group compared with the control group, whereas the distribution of seventeen species from genera Streptococcus, Gemella, and Kingella showed a higher abundance in the control group. Further investigation of interactions among species demonstrated obvious differences in two groups, indicating that various microorganisms interact to produce halitosis in preschool children.
Conclusions:
Overall, halitosis is associated with multi-microbial mutual interactions. The oral flora microorganisms may exert potentiating or inhibiting effects on each other.
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