Comparison of Oral Microbe Quantities from Tongue Samples and Subgingival Pockets.

OBJECTIVES

To improve understanding of periodontitis pathology, we need more profound knowledge of relative abundances of single prokaryotic species and colonization dynamics between habitats. Thus, we quantified oral microbes from two oral habitats to gain insights into colonization variability and correlation to the clinical periodontal status.

METHODS

We analyzed tongue scrapings and subgingival pocket samples from 237 subjects (35-54 years) with at least 10 teeth and no recent periodontal treatment from the 11-year follow-up of the Study of Health in Pomerania. Relative abundances of , , , , total bacteria, and were correlated to clinically assessed pocket depths (PD) and clinical attachment levels (CAL).

RESULTS

Increased relative abundances of , , and were linked to increased levels of PD and CAL (i) on the subject level (mean PD, mean CAL) and (ii) in subgingival pockets. Relative abundances of from tongue samples correlated negatively with mean PD or mean CAL. Detection and quantity of bacterial species correlated weakly to moderately between the tongue and subgingival pocket, except for .

CONCLUSIONS

Relative abundances of specific oral species correlated weakly to moderately between habitats. Single species, total bacteria, and were linked to clinically assessed severity of periodontitis in a habitat-dependent manner.