THE EFFECT OF SOME METAL-IONS ON VOLATILE SULFUR-CONTAINING-COMPOUNDSORIGINATING FROM THE ORAL CAVITY

Halitosis originates mainly from the oral cavity, and the volatile sul fur-containing compounds (VSC) are the major contributors of the unple asant odor. Anaerobic G-bacteria use sulfur-containing amino acids in their production of VSC. Zinc has been shown to inhibit production of odiferous VSC, and the mechanism proposed has been that zinc, with its affinity for sulfur, oxidizes thiol groups and thereby inhibits the p recursors of VSC. The aim of the study was to investigate whether, and to what extent, ether metal ions with affinity for sulfur exert the s ame effect and whether a correlation exists between the sulfur affinit y and VSC-inhibiting activity of these metals. VSC levels were measure d on the 'morning breath' of 10 test subjects, using a portable sulfid e monitor. The mouthrinses tested were aqueous solutions of zinc chlor ide, zinc citrate, stannous fluoride, cuprous gluconate, ferrous gluco nate, and silver acetate, and they contained equimolar amounts of meta ls (1.47 mmol/l). The results showed that the ranking of Zn++ and Sn+ differed in the clinical test compared with sulfur affinity, and like wise with Ag+ and Fe++. It may therefore be concluded that there is no positive correlation between the inhibiting effect of metal ions on V SC and their affinity for sulfur.