Salivary Bacterial Associations to Short Term Discontinuation of Self-performed Oral Hygiene

Does Short Term Discontinuation of Self-performed Oral Hygiene Procedures Influence the Composition of the Salivary Microbiota?

The purpose of the present investigation is to record and compare bacterial compositions in supragingival plaque samples and saliva samples in subjects discontinuing regular oral hygiene for 10 days. The hypothesis is that the composition of the salivary microbiota might reflect local bacterial alterations in relation to discontinuation of oral hygiene.

35 orally healthy individuals will be enrolled in this study, in which they will discontinue regular oral hygiene procedures for a period of 10 days. Clinical registrations and collection of microbiological samples (supragingival and saliva) will be performed at baseline and 4, 7 and 10 days after discontinuation of regular oral hygiene, and will be repeated 14 days after regular oral hygiene has been resumed.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Oral and systemically healthy individuals

Exclusion Criteria:

• Periodontitis
• Dental caries
• Systemic diseases or medications with known associations to oral health
• Antibiotics within the latest 6 month