Tongue coating and salivary bacterial counts in healthy/gingivitis subjects and periodontitis patients

Background: The papillary structure of the dorsum. of the tongue forms a un ique ecological site that provides a large surface area favoring the accumu lation of oral debris and microorganisms. These micro-organisms of the tong ue may be of influence on the flora of the entire oral cavity. The normal a ppearance of the dorsum of the tongue is either pinkish or has a thin white coating. For the present study a scoring method was developed to describe the appearance of the dorsum of the tongue in relation to the extent of col or and thickness of tongue coating. Aim: The purpose of this study was to investigate the discoloration and coa ting of the tongue in healthy/gingivitis subjects and periodontitis patient s, Furthermore. to determine the relationship between the appearance of the tongue and the bacterial load in salivary samples. Material and Methods: 2 groups of patients were studied, 70 healthy/gingivi tis subjects and 56 periodontitis patients. After scoring of the tongue a s alivary sample of each patient was taken and analyzed using a phase-contras t microscope, Results: This investigation showed that most discoloration was found on the distal part of the tongue. The mean number of bacteria per ml sample in re lation to a pink, white and yellow appearance of the tongue was 948, 855 an d 900 (X10(6)) respectively. The mean number of bacteria per ml sample in r elation to no, thin and thick coating was 948, 863, and 895 (X10(6)), respe ctively. Analysis did not reveal a relationship between discoloration, coat ing thickness and total bacterial load. The mean number of bacteria per ml in healthy/gingivitis subjects was 860 and in periodontitis patients 918 (X 10(6)). Conclusion: No relationship between the appearance of the tongue and saliva ry bacterial load could be detected. There was no difference in bacterial l oad between the healthy/gingivitis and the periodontitis group within the p resent study population.