Oral microflora in betel-chewing adults of the Karen tribe in Thailand.

Objective: To study a possible influence of betel chewing on the composition of the oral microflora in plaque and saliva and on oral health parameters as well as a possible betel effect on oral bacteria in vitro.

Material And Methods: Thirty-two adults (16 betel chewers and 16 non-betel-chewing controls) of the Karen Hill tribe in Thailand were investigated. Saliva samples and 2 pooled supragingival plaque samples were taken from each individual for microbial analysis with culture and 4 subgingival samples for analysis with the DNA-DNA hybridization method against 12 periodontitis associated bacterial species.