Presence of oral <em>Helicobacter pylori</em> DNA and its association with dental hygiene in older adults

Yamakido,Hina; Shigeishi,Hideo; Masumoto,Haruna; Hamada,Natsuki; Kitasaki,Honami; Kaneyasu,Yoshino; Niitani,Yoshie; Takemoto,Toshinobu; Sugiyama,Masaru; Ohta,Kouji

doi:10.3892/wasj.2025.414

November-December 2025 Volume 7 Issue 6

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November-December 2025 Volume 7 Issue 6

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Article Open Access

Presence of oral Helicobacter pylori DNA and its association with dental hygiene in older adults

Authors:
- Hina Yamakido
- Hideo Shigeishi
- Haruna Masumoto
- Natsuki Hamada
- Honami Kitasaki
- Yoshino Kaneyasu
- Yoshie Niitani
- Toshinobu Takemoto
- Masaru Sugiyama
- Kouji Ohta
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Affiliations: Department of Public Oral Health, Program of Oral Health Sciences, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima 734‑8553, Japan, Department of Oral Health Management, Program of Oral Health Sciences, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima 734‑8553, Japan, Department of Oral Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Care Sciences, Takarazuka University of Medical and Health Care, Takarazuka, Hyogo 666‑0162, Japan

Copyright: © Yamakido et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License [CC BY 4.0].
Article Number: 126
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Published online on: November 6, 2025

https://doi.org/10.3892/wasj.2025.414
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Abstract

The aim of the present study was to clarify the association between the presence of oral Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) DNA and dental hygiene status in older adults. For this purpose, 98 patients aged ≥65 years (28 males, 70 females; median age, 75 years) were examined in the present study. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis was performed to detect H. pylori DNA in the samples collected from the tongue surface. The accumulation of dental plaque was examined using the modified O'Leary Plaque Control Record to assess dental hygiene condition. Additionally, bleeding on probing and periodontal pocket depth were examined. H. pylori DNA was determined as positive in 7 of the 98 participants (7.1%). Participants in their 70s exhibited a greater positive rate of oral H. pylori DNA (12.5%) than the other age groups. The participants who were positive for oral H. pylori exhibited higher median plaque control record scores (37%) than those who were negative for oral H. pylori (16%). A significant difference in plaque control record scores was found between the oral H. pylori‑negative and ‑positive participants (P=0.04). The oral H. pylori‑positive participants exhibited a higher rate of ≥4 mm deep periodontal pockets (85.7%) than the oral H. pylori‑negative participants (49.5%). However, no significant association between oral H. pylori and deep periodontal pockets was found. Logistic regression analysis was performed as independent variables in univariate analysis (i.e., ≥4 mm deep periodontal pockets and plaque control record score) and with oral H. pylori as the dependent variable. There was no significant association between oral H. pylori and ≥4 mm deep periodontal pockets and plaque control record score. On the whole, these findings suggest that the presence of oral H. pylori DNA is associated with poor dental hygiene in older adults. The maintenance of good oral health by daily oral care may help to reduce the risk of oral H. pylori infection.

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