Effects Of Tea Polyphenol Toothpaste On Oral Microbiota And Halitosis

Oral dysbiosis can cause halitosis and gingival inflammation. This study aimed to evaluate microbial flora regulation effect and anti-Halitosis efficacy of tea polyphenol-containing toothpaste. 16S rRNA sequencing and quantitative real-time PCR were utilized to quantify changes in the relative abundance of halitosis-associated pathogens and beneficial commensal bacteria. In vitro methods: Saliva samples were collected from individuals with halitosis and treated with either test toothpaste containing tea polyphenols or a placebo. Clinical methods: After a one-week washout, 30 subjects were randomized into two groups. Plaque samples and breath volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs) were measured at 2 and 4 weeks. Relative to the placebo toothpaste group, tea polyphenol-treated samples demonstrated reductions in the abundance of Fusobacterium nucleatum and Prevotella intermedia and increases of Streptococcus sanguinis and Lactobacillus spp. After using test toothpaste for 14 days and 28 days, the VSCs concentration decreased by 20.93% and 43.75% respectively and significantly better than the control group (p < 0.05). After 28 days’ usage of test toothpaste, the microbial diversity and species richness of the subjects' plaque samples increased significantly compared with baseline; compared with the control group, the abundance of Streptococcus significantly increased in the plaque samples, the abundance of Porphyromona, Aggregatibacter, and Granullicatella was significantly reduced, including halitosis-associated pathogens such as Porphyromona gingivalis. Tea polyphenol toothpaste modulates oral microbiota, suppressing pathogens and enriching beneficial species, thereby alleviating halitosis.