Analysis of volatile sulfur compounds production of oral cavity in preschool children and influencing factors / 北京大学学报(医学版)

ABSTRACT

Objective:To investigate the prevalence of volatile sulfur compounds ( VSC ) in oral cavity of preschool children, and to analyze related factors, thus to provide scientific basis for the prediction and treatment of halitosis. Methods:The VSC content ( hydrogen sulfide, methyl mercaptan, dimethyl sul-fide) of 170 preschool children (4 to 6 years old) was detected by a portable gas chromatograph Oral-ChromaTM . The status of the oral health was evaluated. The living habits and other aspects were obtained through questionnaires from the children' s parents. A soft package for social statistics version 13. 0 ( SPSS 13 . 0 ) was used in which univariate analysis and multivariate analysis were utilized to analyze the related factors of halitosis in children. Results:In the study, 34. 4% of the total subjects had excessive VSC. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) [(1. 59 ± 2. 41) ng/10 mL] and total VSC concentration [(2. 14 ± 4. 42) ng/10 mL] in the girls were significantly higher (P<0. 05) than those in the boys. The tongue coating score had a significant positive correlation with H2S [tongue coating area (1. 68 ± 2. 48) ng/10 mL,tongue coating thickness (2. 18 ± 2. 69) ng/10 mL] and total VSC concentration [ tongue coating area, (2. 26 ± 4. 31) ng/10 mL,tongue coating thickness (2. 41 ± 3. 02) ng/10 mL , P<0. 01]. The site number of DI-S≥2 had a significant positive correlation with methyl mercaptan ( CH3 SH) and dime-thyl sulfide [(CH3)2S] concentration (P<0. 01). The concentration of H2S [(1. 19 ± 1. 62) ng/10 mL] in children, whose mother had a higher degree of education, was statistically lower (P<0. 01).The children who took dessert or sweat drinks more frequently had lower H2S [(1. 04 ± 1. 55) ng/10 mL, P<0. 05] concentration, while CH3SH and (CH3)2S concentration [(0. 29 ± 1. 92) ng/10 mL, (0. 37 ± 2. 06) ng/10 mL, P<0. 05) were higher in the children with mouth -breath habit. Conclu-sionA high prevalence of halitosis was noted in preschool children. Gender, tongue coating index, deb-ris index-simplified, status of the mother' s education, frequency of eating dessert or sweat drinks and dry mouth breath were related with halitosis of preschool children. The different related factors resulted in changes of each VSC concentration.