Mouthbreathing and gingivitis. 1. Gingival conditions in children with epipharyngeal adenoids.

Abstract

Fifty‐five 6 to 12 year‐old adenoid children were compared with forty healthy children of the same age to establish a positive correlation between mouthbreathing and gingival inflammation existed. The test group was composed of children with a history of medical complications due to enlarged adenoids. Gingival Index and Plague Index were used and, in addition, adenoid size and breathing habits were registered in both groups. Mouthbreathers were found to have higher GI‐ scores than nosebreathers (p<0·01). The most significant differences between test and control groups were found in the maxillary anterior region (p<0·001). Decreasing in GI‐scores were found in the following order: maxillary posterior region (p<0·001), mandibular anterior region (p<0·01), and mandibular posterior region (p<0·05). No statistical differences in PII‐scores existed between the two grops in any region of the dentition. The mechanism behind the increased inflammatory reaction in the test group is discussed. Since higher GI‐scores in mouthbreathers wer more obvious in areas especially subjected to the passage of air during mouthbreathing, destructive effects from dehydration is suggested as the most probable explanation.