Assessment of newly developed tongue sulfide probe for detecting oral malodor

Aim: The present study examined the relationship between sulfide levels on tongue dorsum surfaces (pS levels) and oral malodor. Method: The pS levels of 20 systemically healthy volunteers were evaluated using an industrial device equipped with a newly-developed tongue sulfide p robe, The pS levels on 3 parts of the tongue - anterior, middle and posteri or along the median groove of the tongue dorsum - were determined for each subject. Results: The device reported the pS level in a digital score ranging from 0 .0 (<10(-7) M of sulfide) to 5.0 (<greater than or equal to>10(-2) M of sul fide) in increments of 0.5. Oral malodor was assessed by measuring the leve l of volatile sulfur compounds in mouth air, as well as by the organoleptic method. The pS levels were 0.03+/-0.11, 0.20+/-0.41 and 0.88+/-0.76 for th e anterior, middle and posterior parts, respectively. This difference was s ignificant (p<0.001). Both oral malodor measurements showed significant cor relation (p<0.05) with the pS levels of middle and posterior parts of tongu e. Conclusion: It was concluded that the tongue sulfide probe might be useful in management of subjects with oral malodor.