Joint research with Kao indicated that the quantity and quality of tongue coating may affect the ease with which dental plaque forms, and the researchers advanced the identification of plaque constituents and bacteria. Using multiple instruments and next-generation sequencing, the study identified more than 1,000 constituents and bacterial species.
Through joint research, Kao and Shimadzu Corporation found that people more prone to dental plaque tend to have more tongue coating, and that components serving as nutrients in tongue coating may be involved in plaque formation. The study was conducted in healthy individuals using a design in which plaque was removed and then allowed to accumulate for 2 days.
The study used instruments including the LCMS-8060RX, GCMS-TQ8040 NX and EDX-7200 to analyse metabolites, odour components and elements, and also incorporated microbiome profiling using next-generation sequencing. In total, more than 1,000 constituents and bacterial species were identified.
These findings were presented at the 69th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Periodontology, and the details were also referenced in a Kao press release.
The presentation suggests that the quantity and quality of tongue coating may affect the ease with which dental plaque forms, and may provide a new perspective for future research into plaque control.