Influence of Mouth Breathing on Periodontal Healing
Influence of Mouth Breathing on Periodontal Healing
Studies reveal association between dry conditions and decreased healing in wounds or any
 treatment. From these studies, it can be hypothesized that healing in mouth breathers after
 scaling and root planing in terms of bleeding on probing, gingival index, plaque Index,
 clinical attachment level, probing depth may not show as much improvement as in case of nose
 breathers. No study has been conducted till date to find effect of scaling and root planing
 in periodontitis patients among mouth breathers and nose breathers.
INTRODUCTION

 Mouth breathing is perceived to be responsible for persistant marginal gingivitis. The most
 common region to be affected by gingivitis in mouth breathers is maxillary anterior region.
 Other areas are affected in following decreasing order: maxillary posterior areas, mandibular
 anterior region and mandibular posterior region. Various reasons are considered to be
 responsible for gingival inflammation in mouth breathers. Possible factors responsible for
 gingival inflammation may be continuous loss of saliva over marginal tissues leading to
 increased plaque scores or qualitative change in plaque in terms of incorporation of more
 virulent strains of bacteria in plaque.

 Mouth breathing, lip seal, upper lip coverage are related. In one study, mouth breathing
 along with incompetent lip seal and decreased upper lip coverage were associated with
 gingivitis. In other study plaque was thought to be a contributing factor for gingivitis in
 patients with decreased upper lip coverage. One study showed lack of lip seal due to
 increased overjet to be responsible for increased gingival inflammation. Kolawole KA et al in
 their study found that lip incompetence was associated with increased plaque scores. It may
 be due to lack of normal cleansing action of saliva. No association between mouth breathing
 and gingivitis prevalence had been reported in the study by Sutcliffe. However mouth
 breathing slightly increased severity of gingivitis.

 Saliva performs very important functions including lubrication of oral tissues, antimicrobial
 action, regulation of pH, elimination of food bolus and facilitating in removal of carbon.
 Salivary flow provides mechanical cleansing of residues present in mouth such as non adherent
 bacteria, cellular and food debris. Lack of salivary flushing action results in accumulation
 of food debris and dental plaque thus promoting an acidogenic and aciduric oral bacteria
 responsible for dental caries.

 Xerostomia /dry mouth is responsible for increase in gingival inflammation and also affects
 periodontal conditions with increased probing depth, plaque index. In one study, young adults
 with self reporting of xerostomia had increased sites with bleeding on probing and increased
 plaque scores. Proliferative activity of oral gingival epithelium is decreased in inflamed
 gingiva of patients with xerostomia. In one study, healing in gingivectomy wound was delayed
 in sialadenectomized rats.

 In habitual mouth-breathers, 50% of the inspired air passes through mouth. In
 mouth-breathers, amount of water evaporated from saliva into air may reach 0.24 mL/min
 resulting in greater retention of bacteria in oral cavity.

 For transient relief of xerostomia, salivary substitutes and sugar free gums and lozenges are
 available. Effect of salivary substitutes along with scaling and root planing in mouth
 breathers have been evaluated in one study. It was found that in mouth breathers, scaling and
 root planing along with application of salivary substitutes provided better improvement in
 gingival index, bleeding on probing, clinical attachment level than in whom scaling and root
 planing alone was performed.

 Better response of gingiva was seen in mouth breathers after 4-6 weeks of oral debridement
 and use of petroleum jelly. However when use of petroleum jelly was withheld inflammation was
 again noticed in gingiva.

 Similar effects of drying conditions are seen in various parts of body. In children with dry
 skin and predisposition to atopic dermatitis, use of emollients was seen to improve their
 skin conditions.

 All these studies reveal association between dry conditions and decreased healing in wounds
 or any treatment. From these studies, it can be hypothesized that healing in mouth breathers
 after scaling and root planing in terms of bleeding on probing, gingival index, plaque Index,
 clinical attachment level, probing depth may not show as much improvement as in case of nose
 breathers. No study has been conducted till date to find effect of scaling and root planing
 in periodontitis patients among mouth breathers and nose breathers.

 MATERIAL AND METHODS

 This study will be conducted in Department of Periodontics, Post Graduate Institute of Dental
 Sciences(PGIDS), Rohtak.

 STUDY POPULATION AND DESIGN

 Patients suffering from chronic periodontitis of age group 20-35 years will be recruited from
 regular OPD of the Department of Periodontics in the study. Approximately 60 patients would
 comprise test group and control group. Test group (n≈30) will include individuals having
 mouth breathing habit. Control group (n≈30) will comprise of patients who are nose breathers.

 METHODOLOGY

 The study will be conducted in accordance with the ethical standards outlined in the 1964
 Declaration of Helsinki, as revised in 2013.

 Diagnosis of mouth breathing

 Diagnosis of mouth breathing will be made on the basis of patient history. Patients would be
 asked whether, in their opinion, they are mouth breathers, and also whether they have dry
 mouth on awakening.

 Study groups

 After carefully explaining the nature and objectives of the study, written informed consent
 will be obtained from each patient of study group.

 Participants belonging to both study groups would receive conventional periodontal treatment,
 i.e. scaling and root planing (SRP).

 Clinical measurement

 All of the participants will undergo full mouth examination in a standardized way using
 illumination by a standard dental light, a mouth mirror, explorer and University of North
 Carolina -15(UNC-15) periodontal probe and the following parameters will be recorded: plaque
 index (PI), gingival index (GI), bleeding on probing (BOP), probing depth (PD), and clinical
 attachment level (CAL). Degree of maxillary incisor coverage by upper lip at rest would be
 classified into 2 types: total coverage, maxillary labial gingiva exposed. Teeth will be
 assessed at four sites for PI and GI, and at six sites for PD, CAL, and BOP during full mouth
 periodontal examination. BOP will be assessed as a dichotomous measure within 15 seconds of
 probing to full pocket depth. After the initial readings for PI, GI, BOP, PD, CAL at baseline
 will be recorded; patients would receive oral hygiene instructions and full-mouth SRP.
 Patients will be re-examined at 4th, 8th, 12th week. Reinforcement of oral hygiene will be
 carried out at each recall visit. PI, BOP and GI will be recorded at 4, 8 and 12 weeks of
 treatment. The other parameters would be measured only at the completion of 12 weeks of SRP.

 All clinical periodontal examinations will be carried out by a single investigator to
 preclude any inter-examiner variability.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Systemically healthy individuals possessing ≥ 20 natural teeth.

 -  Chronic periodontitis criteria as defined by division of Oral Health at the Centre for
 Disease Control and Prevention(CDC) in collaboration with American Academy of
 Periodontology(AAP)-(Page and Eke 2012) i.e. at least two or more interproximal sites
 with clinical attachment loss(CAL) ≥ 4mm(not on same tooth), or ≥2 interproximal sites
 with Pocket Depth(PD) ≥5 mm(not on same tooth).

 -  BOP prevalence >25%.

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Patients on anti-inflammatory drugs or antibiotics within previous 6 months of
 commencement of study, or on any other regular medication or mouth wash, that is
 likely to influence periodontal status.

 -  History of periodontal treatment within 1 year of inclusion in the study.

 -  Current or former smokers or use of tobacco in any form.

 -  History of treatment with statins, glucocorticoids, anticoagulants, phenytoin, calcium
 channel blockers such as nifedipine, diltiazem, verapamil, felodipine;
 immunosuppressants such as cyclosporine; bisphosphonates or any other host modulatory
 drugs during last six months.

 -  Non-plaque-induced gingival lesions.

 -  Patients taking drugs reported to cause xerostomia such as anti-cholinergics,
 anti-hypertensives, analgesics, sedatives, tranquilizing agents, antihistamines.

 -  A recent history of any other acute or chronic infection.

 -  Pregnant and lactating women and those taking oral contraceptive drugs.