JP7693379B2 - How to stratify subjects - Google Patents

Description

The present disclosure relates to a method for stratifying subjects, etc. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a method for stratifying subjects in order to determine oral hygiene products or oral hygiene methods, etc. The present disclosure also relates to oral hygiene products, etc. for subjects stratified by the method.

Periodontal disease is an inflammatory disease that develops when periodontal pathogens infect periodontal tissues, and is broadly divided into gingivitis and periodontitis depending on the stage of progression. Plaque caused by poor oral hygiene is thought to be one of the causes of periodontal disease, and gingivitis occurs when oral hygiene behavior is stopped, demonstrating the importance of oral hygiene behavior to remove plaque.

In addition, it is believed that selecting appropriate oral care depending on the condition of the oral environment, such as the presence or absence and severity of periodontal disease, is important for improving the oral environment and maintaining cleanliness.

Patent No. 6310631

The progression from gingivitis to periodontitis is thought to occur as an extension of persistent gingival inflammation caused by plaque adhesion, but because oral bacteria such as periodontal pathogens and biological factors (systemic diseases) are involved in a complex way, it is difficult to evaluate periodontal disease based solely on the presence or absence of plaque adhesion, and screening in places where dental professionals are not present is problematic.

For example, if a subject suffering from periodontal disease carefully brushes their teeth immediately before an oral examination, the plaque removal status will be good at the time of the examination, but the degree of periodontal disease is unlikely to improve as a result of such brushing. As can be seen from this, it is often difficult to evaluate periodontal disease based solely on the presence or absence of plaque adhesion, and therefore there is a demand for the development of a simple method for diagnosing periodontal disease (Patent Document 1).

An objective of the present disclosure is to provide a method for stratifying subjects. Another objective of the present disclosure is to provide a method for stratifying subjects in order to determine oral hygiene products or oral hygiene methods appropriate for the presence or absence of periodontal disease or the severity of the disease.

The inventors discovered that by classifying subjects based not only on the presence or absence of plaque but also on the blood antibody titer (degree of infection) against periodontal pathogens, it is possible to predict the presence or absence of periodontal disease and its severity, and have made further improvements.

The present disclosure includes, for example, the subject matter described in the following sections:
Item 1.
Classifying subjects into groups with or without plaque adhesion, and comparing the antibody titer against periodontal pathogens in a blood sample collected from the subjects with a standard value, and classifying the subjects into groups with values equal to or greater than the standard value or less than the standard value.
Methods for stratifying subjects.
Item 2.
Item 2. The method according to item 1, further comprising comparing the age of the subject with a standard value and classifying the subject into a group equal to or greater than the standard value or a group equal to or less than the standard value.
Item 3.
Item 3. The method according to item 1 or 2, characterized in that it is used to determine an oral hygiene product or oral hygiene method.
Item 4.
In the method according to any one of items 1 to 3,
An oral hygiene product for subjects classified into the group having plaque buildup.
Section 4-1.
In the method according to any one of items 1 to 3,
An oral hygiene product for subjects classified into a group in which the plaque is present and the antibody titer is equal to or greater than the standard value.
Section 4-2.
In the method according to any one of items 1 to 3,
An oral hygiene product for subjects classified into a group having plaque adhesion and an antibody titer below the reference value.
Section 4-3.
In the method according to item 2 or 3,
There is plaque adhesion,
An oral hygiene product for subjects classified into a group in which the antibody titer is equal to or above the standard value and the age is equal to or above the standard value.
Section 4-4.
In the method according to item 2 or 3,
There is plaque adhesion,
An oral hygiene product for subjects classified into a group in which the antibody titer is equal to or greater than the standard value and the age is less than the standard value.
Item 5.
In the method according to any one of items 1 to 3,
An oral hygiene product for subjects classified into a group in which the plaque is not present and the antibody titer is equal to or greater than the standard value.
Item 6.
In the method according to any one of items 1 to 3,
An oral hygiene product for subjects classified into a group in which the plaque is not attached and the antibody titer is below the reference value.
Section 7.
In the method according to item 2 or 3,
There is no adhesion of said plaque,
An oral hygiene product for subjects classified into a group in which the antibody titer is equal to or above the standard value and the age is equal to or above the standard value.
Section 8.
In the method according to item 2 or 3,
There is no adhesion of said plaque,
An oral hygiene product for subjects classified into a group in which the antibody titer is equal to or greater than the standard value and the age is less than the standard value.
Item 9.
A method for determining the presence or absence of periodontal disease in a subject and the severity thereof using as indicators the presence or absence of plaque adhesion in the subject and an antibody titer against periodontal pathogens in a blood sample collected from the subject, comprising:
stratifying subjects based on the presence or absence of said plaque and said antibody titer.

A method for stratifying subjects is provided. Also provided is an oral hygiene product for the stratified subjects.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing tooth numbers and names.

Each embodiment included in the present disclosure will be described in further detail below.
The present disclosure encompasses a method for stratifying a subject. In this specification, the method for stratification may be referred to as the "stratification method of the present disclosure."

In this specification, "stratification" means classifying and extracting subjects into several groups.

The stratification method of the present disclosure includes classifying subjects into a group with or without plaque attachment. The stratification method of the present disclosure may also include confirming the presence or absence of plaque attachment.

The subject is not particularly limited as long as it is a human. For example, the subject may be a healthy individual, a human suffering from periodontal disease (a periodontal disease patient), or a human suspected of suffering from periodontal disease.

As used herein, "plaque" refers to a mass of bacteria that adheres to the surface of teeth. Plaque is also sometimes called dental plaque.

The method for confirming the presence or absence of plaque adhesion is not particularly limited, and known methods can be used. For example, there are a method of rubbing the tooth surface with the tip of a periodontal probe or dental probe to determine the presence or absence of plaque adhesion, a method of staining the tooth surface using a plaque staining solution to determine the presence or absence of plaque adhesion, a method of determining the presence or absence of plaque adhesion by image diagnosis, and a method of detecting plaque using a sensor. In addition, it is already known that plaque adhesion occurs as a result of insufficient oral hygiene, and is therefore associated with the number of times teeth are brushed and the use of interdental cleaning tools, and that continued plaque adhesion causes gingival bleeding. Therefore, questions about oral hygiene behavior (questionnaires) and tests to check for gingival bleeding (occult blood) can be used as substitutes for plaque adhesion.

The teeth to be checked for the presence or absence of plaque may be, for example, all teeth, or may be target teeth. The target teeth may be, for example, six teeth in total: six upper right, one upper right, six upper left, six lower right, one lower left, and six lower left. The numbers correspond to the numbers shown in Figure 1. The teeth may also be teeth that can be photographed with a smartphone or the like (mainly the anterior teeth), or teeth that can be photographed with an intraoral camera.

When no plaque adhesion is observed or is below the detection limit by the above-mentioned method, the specimen is classified into a group without plaque adhesion, and otherwise, into a group with plaque adhesion. As shown in the examples described later, when evaluating the presence or absence of plaque by Plaque Index (PlI), a specimen is classified into a group without plaque adhesion when the average measured value of PlI is, for example, less than 0.5 (preferably less than 0.25, more preferably 0), and a specimen is classified into a group with plaque adhesion when the average measured value is 0.5 or more (preferably 0.25 or more, more preferably greater than 0).

The stratification method of the present disclosure includes comparing the antibody titer against periodontal pathogens in a blood sample collected from the subject with a reference value and classifying the subject into a group with the antibody titer equal to or greater than the reference value or a group with the antibody titer less than the reference value. The stratification method of the present disclosure may also include measuring the antibody titer against periodontal pathogens in a blood sample collected from the subject.

The blood sample is not particularly limited as long as it is a sample derived from blood collected from a subject, and may be, for example, whole blood or a blood separation product (e.g., serum, plasma, etc.). Among these, plasma or serum is preferred, and serum is more preferred. The method and conditions for storing the blood sample collected from the subject are not particularly limited, and may be carried out according to standard methods.

The method for collecting a blood sample from a subject is not particularly limited and may be performed according to a conventional method. When serum or plasma is used as a blood sample, it is preferable to use a vacuum blood collection tube containing a serum or plasma separator from the viewpoints of ease of handling, prevention of infection, etc.
The collected blood sample may be used as is, or may be freeze-dried or otherwise stored and then the freeze-dried product may be dissolved in a suitable solvent as described below and then used. The collected blood sample may be frozen and stored as is, or may be frozen and stored after being dissolved in a suitable solvent as described below and then thawed when ready for use.

Examples of solvents for dissolving blood samples include physiological saline, PBS, phosphate buffer, Tris buffer, borate buffer, and Good Buffer. These solvents may contain casein, skim milk, bovine serum albumin (BSA), gelatin, blood protein, or plant protein as an active ingredient, protein component stabilizers such as normal animal blood components from mice, rabbits, goats, and fetal cows, and normal human serum components; various preservatives; surfactants; and enzyme activators such as salts of metals such as zinc and magnesium.

As a method for measuring the antibody titer against periodontal pathogens, for example, a method can be used in which a blood sample is contacted with a polypeptide having antigenicity (which undergoes an antigen-antibody reaction with antibodies against periodontal pathogens) to detect an antigen-antibody reaction product (a complex containing the antibody and the polypeptide) between the polypeptide and an antibody (e.g., IgG antibody, IgA antibody, IgM antibody, etc.) against the periodontal pathogen present in the blood sample.

In this specification, "having antigenicity" means undergoing an antigen-antibody reaction with an antibody against periodontal pathogens. Examples of antibodies include immunoglobulin antibodies such as IgG antibodies, IgM antibodies, and IgA antibodies, and any of the immunoglobulin antibodies may undergo an antigen-antibody reaction. Of these, IgG antibodies are preferred.

Antigenicity can be evaluated by the ELISA method. More specifically, the polypeptide to be evaluated for antigenicity is used as the antigen, and the positive serum of a periodontal disease patient containing antibodies against periodontal pathogens is used as the primary antibody. If an antigen-antibody reaction between these is detected by the ELISA method, the polypeptide is determined to have antigenicity.

The antigenic polypeptide is not particularly limited as long as it undergoes an antigen-antibody reaction with an antibody against periodontal pathogens, and any known polypeptide can be used. For example, it may be a polypeptide that includes the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:1, or it may be a polypeptide consisting of the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:1.

The polypeptides can be produced using general protein chemical synthesis methods (e.g., liquid phase and solid phase methods) based on the amino acid sequence information. The above-mentioned polypeptides can also be produced by genetic engineering techniques using polynucleotides that encode the polypeptides.

The polypeptide may further include a tag. Examples of tags include peptide tags such as His tags and SBP (Streptavidin Binding Peptide) tags; and polypeptide tags such as GST (Glutathione-S-transferase) tags and MBP (Maltose Binding Protein) tags. Among these, polypeptide tags are preferred, and GST tags are more preferred.

The method for adding the tag is not particularly limited, and conventional methods and reaction conditions can be used.

The polypeptide may further have a labeling substance. Examples of labeling substances include horseradish peroxidase (HRP), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), β-D-galactosidase, biotin, gold colloid, and latex beads.

The method for detecting the antigen-antibody reactant is not particularly limited, and conventional methods and reaction conditions can be used. For example, a method of contacting the antigen-antibody reactant with an anti-immunoglobulin (e.g., anti-IgG antibody, etc.) containing a labeling substance and detecting the labeling substance, or a method of detecting the labeling substance when the polypeptide contains a labeling substance, etc. can be mentioned.
The method for detecting an antigen-antibody reaction product may include, as necessary, for example, a step of immobilizing an antigen on a solid phase, a washing step, a blocking step, a substrate reaction step, etc. Conventional methods and reaction conditions can be used for these steps.

As a method for detecting antigen-antibody reactants, immunological methods such as ELISA, FLEIA, CLEIA, dot blot, and immunochromatography are preferably used.

The antibody titer can be calculated, for example, as U/mL (the concentration of antibodies against periodontal pathogens in a blood sample).

The standard value for comparison with the antibody titer against periodontal pathogens in a blood sample collected from a subject can be, for example, a blood antibody titer of 100 U/mL.

The stratification method of the present disclosure may further include comparing the age of the subject with a reference value and classifying the subject into a group having an antibody titer equal to or greater than the reference value or a group having an antibody titer less than the reference value. For example, for a subject classified into a group having an antibody titer equal to or greater than the reference value, the age of the subject may be compared with a reference value and the subject may be classified into a group having an antibody titer equal to or greater than the reference value or a group having an antibody titer less than the reference value.

The reference value for comparison with the subject's age can be, for example, 40 years old or 50 years old. 40 years old is preferable.

The stratification method disclosed herein can classify subjects into a group with plaque and an antibody titer equal to or greater than a standard value; a group with plaque and an antibody titer below a standard value; a group with no plaque and an antibody titer equal to or greater than a standard value; or a group with no plaque and an antibody titer below a standard value.

The stratification method of the present disclosure may also classify subjects into a group with plaque, an antibody titer equal to or greater than a reference value, and an age equal to or greater than a reference value; a group with plaque, an antibody titer equal to or greater than a reference value, and an age less than a reference value; a group with plaque, an antibody titer less than a reference value, and an age greater than or equal to a reference value; a group with plaque, an antibody titer less than a reference value, and an age less than a reference value; a group with no plaque, an antibody titer equal to or greater than a reference value, and an age greater than or equal to a reference value; a group with no plaque, an antibody titer equal to or greater than a reference value, and an age less than a reference value; a group with no plaque, an antibody titer less than a reference value, and an age greater than or equal to a reference value; or a group with no plaque, an antibody titer less than a reference value, and an age less than a reference value.

The stratification method disclosed herein allows subjects to be stratified according to the presence or absence of periodontal disease and the severity of the disease.

Periodontal disease is broadly divided into gingivitis and periodontitis (mild periodontitis and severe periodontitis).
As used herein, "gingivitis" refers to a condition in which plaque accumulates on the gum line, causing inflammation of the gums, resulting in swelling and bleeding.
In this specification, "periodontitis" refers to a more advanced state of gingivitis, in which plaque accumulates under the gum line, the alveolar bone is destroyed, the gap between the teeth and gums deepens, and a periodontal pocket is formed. In this specification, a periodontal pocket whose depth is 4 mm or more but less than 6 mm is defined as "mild periodontitis," and a periodontal pocket whose depth is 6 mm or more is defined as "severe periodontitis."

According to the stratification method disclosed herein, subjects can be stratified according to the presence or absence of periodontal disease and the severity of the disease based on the presence or absence of plaque and the antibody titer against periodontal pathogens in blood samples, even when a dental professional is not present or a dental checkup has not been conducted, for example, based on the results of blood tests and other tests in health checkups and oral images taken.

As shown in the Examples described below, when plaque was present, the proportion of subjects without periodontal disease was low and the proportion of subjects with gingivitis and mild periodontitis was high, suggesting that plaque adhesion is involved in the onset of periodontal disease (occurrence of inflammation).
Furthermore, as shown in the examples described below, when the antibody titer was high, the proportion of subjects with gingivitis was low and the proportion of subjects with periodontitis (mild periodontitis and severe periodontitis) was high, suggesting that the antibody titer against periodontal pathogens in blood samples is involved in the aggravation of periodontal disease.

According to the stratification method of the present disclosure, the group with plaque adhesion and an antibody titer equal to or greater than the standard value has a higher proportion of subjects with periodontitis (particularly severe periodontitis) than other groups. Also, the group with plaque adhesion and an antibody titer equal to or greater than the standard value has a lower proportion of subjects with gingivitis than other groups (more specifically, the group with plaque adhesion and an antibody titer less than the standard value). Therefore, according to the stratification method of the present disclosure, it is possible to predict (determine) that subjects classified into the group with plaque adhesion and an antibody titer equal to or greater than the standard value are more likely to have periodontitis (particularly severe periodontitis) than subjects classified into other groups.
According to the stratification method of the present disclosure, the group with plaque adhesion and an antibody titer below the standard value has a higher proportion of subjects with gingivitis than other groups (more specifically, the group with plaque adhesion and an antibody titer equal to or greater than the standard value). Therefore, according to the stratification method of the present disclosure, it is possible to predict (determine) that subjects classified into the group with plaque adhesion and an antibody titer below the standard value are more likely to have gingivitis than subjects classified into other groups.
According to the stratification method of the present disclosure, the group with no plaque and an antibody titer equal to or greater than the standard value has a higher proportion of subjects with periodontitis than other groups (more specifically, the group with no plaque and an antibody titer less than the standard value). Therefore, according to the stratification method of the present disclosure, it is possible to predict (determine) that subjects classified into the group with no plaque and an antibody titer equal to or greater than the standard value are more likely to have periodontitis than subjects classified into other groups (more specifically, the group with no plaque and an antibody titer less than the standard value).
According to the stratification method of the present disclosure, the group with no plaque and an antibody titer below the standard value has a high proportion of subjects without periodontal disease (healthy subjects). Therefore, according to the stratification method of the present disclosure, it is possible to predict (determine) that subjects classified into the group with no plaque and an antibody titer below the standard value are highly likely to be subjects without periodontal disease (healthy subjects).

According to the stratification method of the present disclosure, the group with plaque adhesion, antibody titer equal to or greater than the standard value, and age equal to or greater than the standard value has a higher proportion of subjects with periodontitis (particularly severe periodontitis) than other groups. Also, the group with plaque adhesion, antibody titer equal to or greater than the standard value, and age equal to or greater than the standard value has a lower proportion of subjects with gingivitis than other groups (more specifically, the group with plaque adhesion, antibody titer less than the standard value, and the group with plaque adhesion, antibody titer equal to or greater than the standard value, and age equal to or greater than the standard value). Therefore, according to the stratification method of the present disclosure, it can be predicted (determined) that subjects classified into the group with plaque adhesion, antibody titer equal to or greater than the standard value, and age equal to or greater than the standard value are more likely to have periodontitis (particularly severe periodontitis) than subjects classified into other groups.
According to the stratification method of the present disclosure, the group with plaque adhesion, an antibody titer equal to or greater than the standard value, and an age less than the standard value has a higher proportion of subjects with gingivitis than other groups (more specifically, the group with plaque adhesion, an antibody titer equal to or greater than the standard value, and an age greater than the standard value). Therefore, according to the stratification method of the present disclosure, it is possible to predict (determine) that subjects classified into the group with plaque adhesion, an antibody titer equal to or greater than the standard value, and an age less than the standard value are more likely to have gingivitis than subjects classified into other groups (more specifically, the group with plaque adhesion, an antibody titer equal to or greater than the standard value, and an age greater than the standard value).
According to the stratification method of the present disclosure, the group with no plaque, an antibody titer equal to or greater than the standard value, and an age equal to or greater than the standard value has a higher proportion of subjects with periodontitis than other groups (more specifically, the group with no plaque, an antibody titer below the standard value, and the group with no plaque, an antibody titer equal to or greater than the standard value, and an age below the standard value). Therefore, according to the stratification method of the present disclosure, subjects classified into the group with no plaque, an antibody titer equal to or greater than the standard value, and an age above the standard value can be predicted (determined) to be more likely to have periodontitis than subjects classified into other groups (more specifically, the group with no plaque, an antibody titer below the standard value, and the group with no plaque, an antibody titer equal to or greater than the standard value, and an age below the standard value).
According to the stratification method of the present disclosure, the group with no plaque, an antibody titer equal to or greater than the standard value, and an age less than the standard value has a high proportion of subjects without periodontal disease (healthy individuals). Therefore, according to the stratification method of the present disclosure, it is possible to predict (determine) that subjects classified into the group with no plaque, an antibody titer equal to or greater than the standard value, and an age less than the standard value are highly likely to be subjects without periodontal disease (healthy individuals).

According to the present disclosure, for example, even if a subject is classified into a group having no plaque, it is possible to predict (determine) whether the subject is suffering from periodontal disease or has a severe degree of periodontal disease.
For example, as shown in the examples described below, even if there is no plaque, if the antibody titer against periodontal pathogens is equal to or above a standard value, it is possible to predict (determine) the possibility of having periodontitis.
Furthermore, for example, as shown in the examples described later, even if there is no adhesion of plaque, if the antibody titer against periodontal pathogens is equal to or higher than a reference value and the age of the subject is equal to or higher than a reference value, it is possible to predict (determine) that the subject may have periodontitis. By using age as a reference value, it is expected that subjects can be stratified with higher accuracy according to the presence or absence of periodontal disease or the degree of the disease.

According to the present disclosure, for example, even if a subject is classified into a group in which the antibody titer against periodontal pathogens is equal to or above a standard value, it is possible to predict (determine) whether the subject is free of periodontal disease (healthy individual).
For example, as shown in the examples described below, even if the antibody titer against periodontal pathogens is above the standard value, if there is no plaque attached, it can be predicted (determined) that the subject is likely not suffering from periodontal disease (a healthy individual).
Furthermore, for example, as shown in the examples described later, even if the antibody titer against periodontal pathogens is equal to or higher than the reference value, if there is no plaque and the subject's age is less than the reference value, it can be predicted (determined) that the subject is highly likely to be free of periodontal disease (a healthy individual). By using age as the reference value, it is expected that subjects can be stratified with higher accuracy according to the presence or absence of periodontal disease or the degree of periodontal disease.

According to the stratification method of the present disclosure, subjects can be stratified according to the presence or absence of periodontal disease and the severity of the disease. Therefore, the stratification method of the present disclosure can be suitably used to determine oral hygiene products or oral hygiene methods suitable for the subject.

Oral hygiene products include, for example, toothbrushes, interdental cleaning tools, ointments, pastes, gels, liquids, sprays, mouthwashes, liquid dentifrices, toothpastes, gums, tablets, lozenges, drops, films, toothbrushing log devices for recording the number of times or duration of brushing, and light irradiation devices for killing periodontal pathogens.
The oral hygiene product may be a medicine, a quasi-drug, a food, or the like.
Examples of oral hygiene methods include tooth brushing methods, optimal methods for using oral hygiene products, etc. Although not particularly limited, more specific examples include brushing for 3 minutes or more, brushing three or more times a day, thoroughly brushing all teeth, selecting the right size and using an interdental cleaner, etc.

According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide oral hygiene products or oral hygiene methods suitable for stratified subjects.
According to the present disclosure, for example, oral hygiene products or methods can be provided for subjects classified into a group having plaque buildup.
According to the present disclosure, for example, oral hygiene products or oral hygiene methods can be provided for subjects classified into a group without plaque adhesion.
According to the present disclosure, for example, oral hygiene products or oral hygiene methods can be provided for subjects classified into a group whose antibody titer is equal to or above a standard value.
According to the present disclosure, for example, oral hygiene products or oral hygiene methods can be provided for subjects classified into a group whose antibody titers are below a standard value.
According to the present disclosure, for example, oral hygiene products or oral hygiene methods can be provided for subjects classified into a group having plaque adhesion and an antibody titer equal to or greater than a standard value.
According to the present disclosure, for example, oral hygiene products or oral hygiene methods can be provided for subjects classified into a group having plaque adhesion and an antibody titer below the standard value.
According to the present disclosure, for example, oral hygiene products or oral hygiene methods can be provided for subjects classified into a group having no plaque and an antibody titer equal to or greater than a standard value.
According to the present disclosure, for example, oral hygiene products or oral hygiene methods can be provided for subjects classified into a group having no plaque and an antibody titer below a standard value.

Furthermore, according to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide oral hygiene products or oral hygiene methods for subjects classified into a group having plaque adhesion, an antibody titer above a standard value, and an age above a standard value.
According to the present disclosure, for example, oral hygiene products or oral hygiene methods can be provided for subjects classified into a group having plaque adhesion, an antibody titer above a standard value, and an age below the standard value.
According to the present disclosure, for example, oral hygiene products or oral hygiene methods can be provided for subjects classified into a group having plaque adhesion, an antibody titer below a standard value, and an age equal to or greater than a standard value.
According to the present disclosure, for example, oral hygiene products or oral hygiene methods can be provided for subjects classified into a group having plaque adhesion, an antibody titer below the standard value, and an age below the standard value.
According to the present disclosure, for example, oral hygiene products or oral hygiene methods can be provided for subjects classified into a group having no plaque adhesion, an antibody titer above a standard value, and an age above a standard value.
According to the present disclosure, for example, oral hygiene products or oral hygiene methods can be provided for subjects classified into a group having no plaque, an antibody titer above a standard value, and an age below the standard value.
According to the present disclosure, for example, oral hygiene products or oral hygiene methods can be provided for subjects classified into a group having no plaque, an antibody titer below a standard value, and an age above the standard value.
According to the present disclosure, for example, oral hygiene products or oral hygiene methods can be provided for subjects classified into a group having no plaque, an antibody titer below the standard value, and an age below the standard value.

Oral hygiene products may be, for example, for reducing plaque, inhibiting plaque formation, killing periodontal pathogens, inhibiting the proliferation of periodontal pathogens, inhibiting colonization of periodontal pathogens, preventing colonization of periodontal pathogens, etc.

For subjects classified into the group with plaque adhesion, it is assumed that, for example, reducing plaque, inhibiting plaque formation, etc. are effective in suppressing inflammation. As a means of reducing plaque, it is assumed that improving mechanical plaque removal (increasing the frequency of brushing teeth, using interdental cleaning tools, etc.) is particularly effective.
For subjects classified into a group with no plaque and antibody titers against periodontal pathogens below the standard value, it is presumed that, for example, maintaining good plaque quality, inhibiting the establishment of periodontal pathogens, or preventing the establishment of periodontal pathogens will be effective in preventing the onset of periodontal disease.
Even for subjects classified as having no plaque, if the antibody titer against periodontal pathogens is above the standard value, it is presumed that, for example, sterilizing the periodontal pathogens, inhibiting their growth, and preventing the invasion of periodontal pathogens into gingival cells will be effective in inhibiting the progression of periodontal disease.

Oral hygiene products for subjects classified into the group with plaque buildup may be, for example, products for reducing plaque, inhibiting plaque formation, and the like.
Oral hygiene products for subjects classified into the group with no plaque adhesion may be, for example, products for killing periodontal pathogens, inhibiting the growth of periodontal pathogens, inhibiting the colonization of periodontal pathogens, preventing the colonization of periodontal pathogens, etc.
Oral hygiene products for subjects classified into a group with antibody titers above the standard value may be, for example, products for killing periodontal pathogens, suppressing the growth of periodontal pathogens, and inhibiting the invasion of periodontal pathogens into gingival cells.
Oral hygiene products for subjects classified into a group with antibody titers below the standard value may be, for example, products for suppressing periodontal pathogen colonization, preventing periodontal pathogen colonization, maintaining oral bacterial flora, etc.
Oral hygiene products for subjects classified into a group with plaque adhesion and antibody titers above a standard value may be, for example, products for reducing plaque, inhibiting plaque formation, killing periodontal pathogens, inhibiting the proliferation of periodontal pathogens, etc.
Oral hygiene products for subjects classified into a group having plaque adhesion and antibody titers below the standard value may be, for example, products for reducing plaque, inhibiting plaque formation, inhibiting periodontal pathogen colonization, and preventing periodontal pathogen colonization.
Oral hygiene products for subjects classified into a group with no plaque and antibody titers above a standard value may be, for example, products for inhibiting plaque formation, killing periodontal pathogens, inhibiting the proliferation of periodontal pathogens, etc.
Oral hygiene products for subjects classified into a group having no plaque adhesion and an antibody titer below the standard value may be, for example, products for inhibiting plaque formation, inhibiting periodontal pathogen colonization, or preventing periodontal pathogen colonization.
Oral hygiene products for subjects classified into a group having plaque adhesion, an antibody titer above a standard value, and an age above a standard value may be, for example, products for reducing plaque, inhibiting plaque formation, killing periodontal pathogens, inhibiting the proliferation of periodontal pathogens, inhibiting the invasion of periodontal pathogens into gingival cells, etc.
Oral hygiene products for subjects classified into a group having plaque adhesion, an antibody titer equal to or above the standard value, and an age below the standard value may be, for example, products for reducing plaque, inhibiting plaque formation, inhibiting periodontal pathogen colonization, preventing periodontal pathogen colonization, etc.
Oral hygiene products for subjects classified into a group with no plaque, antibody titers above the standard value, and ages above the standard value may be, for example, products for killing periodontal pathogens and inhibiting the growth of periodontal pathogens.
Oral hygiene products for subjects classified into a group having no plaque adhesion, an antibody titer above the standard value, and an age below the standard value may be, for example, products for suppressing periodontal pathogen colonization or preventing periodontal pathogen colonization.

The present disclosure can provide a program for implementing the stratification method of the present disclosure described above. That is, the program is a program for implementing in a computer a first function of acquiring the presence or absence of plaque on a subject and the antibody titer against periodontal pathogens in a blood sample, and a second function of stratifying subjects based on the presence or absence of plaque and the antibody titer against periodontal pathogens in a blood sample acquired by the first function.

The above description can be used for the presence or absence of plaque, the antibody titer against periodontal pathogens in blood samples, and stratification of subjects based on the presence or absence of plaque and the antibody titer.

The stratification results can be provided to the subjects, for example, via a network. Also, for example, oral hygiene products or oral hygiene methods for the subjects classified into each of the above-mentioned groups can be presented to the subjects via a network. For example, information on the stratification results, oral hygiene products or oral hygiene methods, etc. can be sent to the subject's smartphone, tablet terminal, etc. Also, for example, based on the stratification results, suggestions, guidance, etc. on oral hygiene products or oral hygiene methods can be provided to the subjects via a network.

The present disclosure also includes a method for measuring (predicting) the presence or absence, or the severity, of periodontal disease in a subject. In this specification, this method may be referred to as the "method for measuring the presence or absence, or the severity, of periodontal disease of the present disclosure."

The method of the present disclosure for measuring the presence or absence of periodontal disease or the extent thereof preferably uses as indicators the presence or absence of plaque in the subject and the antibody titer against periodontal pathogens in a blood sample. The method of the present disclosure for measuring the presence or absence of periodontal disease or the extent thereof may also use age as an indicator.

The method of the present disclosure for measuring the presence or absence of periodontal disease or the extent thereof preferably includes stratifying subjects based on the presence or absence of plaque adhesion and antibody titer. The method of the present disclosure for measuring the presence or absence of periodontal disease or the extent thereof may further include stratifying subjects based on age.

Regarding the presence or absence of plaque, the antibody titer against periodontal pathogens in blood samples, and the method of stratifying subjects based on the presence or absence of plaque and the antibody titer, the description of the "Stratification method of the present disclosure" above can be used.

According to the method of measuring the presence or absence of periodontal disease or its severity disclosed herein, it is possible to measure (predict) the presence or absence or severity of periodontal disease in a subject based on the stratification results.

The present disclosure can provide a program for implementing the method for measuring the presence or absence of periodontal disease or its severity as described above. That is, the program is a program for implementing in a computer a first function of acquiring the presence or absence of plaque on a subject and the antibody titer against periodontal pathogens in a blood sample, a second function of stratifying subjects based on the presence or absence of plaque and the antibody titer against periodontal pathogens in a blood sample acquired by the first function, and a third function of measuring (predicting) the presence or absence or severity of periodontal disease on a subject based on the stratification results.

The present disclosure also includes a method for assisting in stratifying subjects according to the presence or absence of periodontal disease or the severity of the disease. In this specification, this method may be referred to as the "method for assisting in stratification of the present disclosure."

The method for assisting in the stratification of the present disclosure preferably uses as indicators the presence or absence of plaque in the subject and the antibody titer against periodontal pathogens in a blood sample. The method for assisting in the stratification of the present disclosure may also use age as an indicator.

The method of assisting in stratification of the present disclosure preferably includes stratifying subjects based on the presence or absence of plaque and antibody titer. The method of assisting in stratification of the present disclosure may further include stratifying subjects based on age.

Regarding the presence or absence of plaque, the antibody titer against periodontal pathogens in blood samples, and the method of stratifying subjects based on the presence or absence of plaque and the antibody titer, the description of the "Stratification method of the present disclosure" above can be used.

The method of assisting stratification disclosed herein can assist in stratifying subjects according to the presence or absence of periodontal disease and the severity of the disease.

The present disclosure can provide a program for realizing the method of assisting in stratification of the present disclosure described above. That is, the program is a program for causing a computer to realize a first function of acquiring the presence or absence of plaque on a subject and the antibody titer against periodontal pathogens in a blood sample, and a second function of stratifying subjects based on the presence or absence of plaque and the antibody titer against periodontal pathogens in a blood sample acquired by the first function.

The present disclosure also includes a method for assisting in determining (diagnosing) the presence or absence, or the extent, of periodontal disease in a subject. In this specification, this method may be referred to as "the method of the present disclosure for assisting in determining the presence or absence, or the extent, of periodontal disease."

The method disclosed herein for assisting in determining the presence or absence of periodontal disease or its severity preferably uses as indicators the presence or absence of plaque in the subject and the antibody titer against periodontal pathogens in a blood sample. The method disclosed herein for assisting in determining the presence or absence of periodontal disease or its severity may further use age as an indicator.

The method of the present disclosure for assisting in determining the presence or absence of periodontal disease or its severity preferably includes stratifying subjects based on the presence or absence of plaque adhesion and antibody titer. The method of the present disclosure for assisting in determining the presence or absence of periodontal disease or its severity may further include stratifying subjects based on age.

Regarding the presence or absence of plaque, the antibody titer against periodontal pathogens in blood samples, and the method of stratifying subjects based on the presence or absence of plaque and the antibody titer, the description of the "Stratification method of the present disclosure" above can be used.

The method disclosed herein for assisting in determining the presence or absence of periodontal disease or its severity can assist in determining the presence or absence or severity of periodontal disease in a subject based on the stratification results.

The present disclosure can provide a program for realizing the method of assisting in determining the presence or absence of periodontal disease or its severity as described above. That is, the program is a program for causing a computer to realize a first function of acquiring the presence or absence of plaque on a subject and the antibody titer against periodontal pathogens in a blood sample, a second function of stratifying subjects based on the presence or absence of plaque and the antibody titer against periodontal pathogens in a blood sample acquired by the first function, and a third function of determining the presence or absence or severity of periodontal disease on a subject based on the stratification results.

The present disclosure also includes a method for measuring (predicting) a subject's risk of developing or aggravating periodontal disease. In this specification, this method may be referred to as the "method for measuring the risk of developing or aggravating periodontal disease of the present disclosure."

The method of measuring the risk of developing or aggravating periodontal disease disclosed herein preferably uses as indicators the presence or absence of plaque on the subject and the antibody titer against periodontal pathogens in a blood sample. The method of measuring the risk of developing or aggravating periodontal disease disclosed herein may further use age as an indicator.

The method of measuring the risk of developing or aggravating periodontal disease disclosed herein preferably includes stratifying subjects based on the presence or absence of plaque adhesion and antibody titer. The method of measuring the risk of developing or aggravating periodontal disease disclosed herein may further include stratifying subjects based on age.

Regarding the presence or absence of plaque, the antibody titer against periodontal pathogens in blood samples, and the method of stratifying subjects based on the presence or absence of plaque and the antibody titer, the description of the "Stratification method of the present disclosure" above can be used.

According to the disclosed method for measuring the risk of developing or aggravating periodontal disease, the subject's risk of developing or aggravating periodontal disease can be measured (predicted) based on the stratification results.

The present disclosure can provide a program for realizing the method for measuring the risk of developing or aggravating periodontal disease disclosed above. That is, the program is a program for causing a computer to realize a first function of acquiring the presence or absence of plaque on a subject and the antibody titer against periodontal pathogens in a blood sample, a second function of stratifying subjects based on the presence or absence of plaque and the antibody titer against periodontal pathogens in a blood sample acquired by the first function, and a third function of measuring (predicting) the risk of developing or aggravating periodontal disease on a subject based on the stratification results.

The present disclosure also includes a method for assisting in determining a subject's risk of developing or aggravating periodontal disease. In this specification, the method may be referred to as "the method for assisting in determining a subject's risk of developing or aggravating periodontal disease of the present disclosure."

The method of the present disclosure for assisting in determining the risk of developing or aggravating periodontal disease preferably uses as indicators the presence or absence of plaque in the subject and the antibody titer against periodontal pathogens in a blood sample. The method of the present disclosure for assisting in determining the risk of developing or aggravating periodontal disease may further use age as an indicator.

The method of the present disclosure for assisting in determining the risk of developing or aggravating periodontal disease preferably includes stratifying subjects based on the presence or absence of plaque adhesion and antibody titer. The method of the present disclosure for assisting in determining the risk of developing or aggravating periodontal disease may further include stratifying subjects based on age.

Regarding the presence or absence of plaque, the antibody titer against periodontal pathogens in blood samples, and the method of stratifying subjects based on the presence or absence of plaque and the antibody titer, the description of the "Stratification method of the present disclosure" above can be used.

The method disclosed herein for assisting in determining the risk of developing or aggravating periodontal disease can assist in determining a subject's risk of developing or aggravating periodontal disease based on the stratification results.

The present disclosure can provide a program for realizing the method of assisting in determining the risk of developing or aggravating periodontal disease of the present disclosure described above. That is, the program is a program for causing a computer to realize a first function of acquiring the presence or absence of plaque on a subject and the antibody titer against periodontal pathogens in a blood sample, a second function of stratifying subjects based on the presence or absence of plaque and the antibody titer against periodontal pathogens in a blood sample acquired by the first function, and a third function of determining the risk of developing or aggravating periodontal disease on a subject based on the stratification results.

The present disclosure also encompasses a method for assisting in determining (suggesting) an oral hygiene product or oral hygiene method appropriate for a subject, depending on the presence or absence of periodontal disease in the subject and the extent of the disease. In this specification, the method may be referred to as a "method for assisting in determining an oral hygiene product or oral hygiene method of the present disclosure."

The method of assisting in the determination of the oral hygiene product or oral hygiene method of the present disclosure preferably uses as indicators the presence or absence of plaque on the subject and the antibody titer against periodontal pathogens in a blood sample. The method of assisting in the determination of the oral hygiene product or oral hygiene method of the present disclosure may further use age as an indicator.

The method of assisting in determining an oral hygiene product or oral hygiene method of the present disclosure preferably includes stratifying subjects based on the presence or absence of plaque and antibody titer. The method of assisting in determining an oral hygiene product or oral hygiene method of the present disclosure may further include stratifying subjects based on age.

Regarding the presence or absence of plaque, the antibody titer against periodontal pathogens in blood samples, and the method of stratifying subjects based on the presence or absence of plaque and the antibody titer, the description of the "Stratification method of the present disclosure" above can be used.

The method of the present disclosure for assisting in the determination of oral hygiene products or oral hygiene methods can assist in determining (presenting) oral hygiene products or oral hygiene methods suitable for a subject based on the stratification results.

The present disclosure can provide a program for realizing the method of assisting in determining the oral hygiene product or oral hygiene method of the present disclosure described above. That is, the program is a program for causing a computer to realize a first function of acquiring the presence or absence of plaque on the subject and the antibody titer against periodontal pathogens in a blood sample, a second function of stratifying the subject based on the presence or absence of plaque and the antibody titer against periodontal pathogens in the blood sample acquired by the first function, and a third function of determining (presenting) an oral hygiene product or oral hygiene method suitable for the subject based on the stratification result.

In this specification, the term "comprising" includes "consisting essentially of" and "consisting of." In addition, the present disclosure includes any combination of the constituent elements described in this specification.

Furthermore, the various characteristics (properties, structures, functions, etc.) described for each embodiment of the present disclosure above may be combined in any way to identify the subject matter encompassed by the present disclosure. In other words, the present disclosure encompasses all subject matter consisting of any combination of the combinable characteristics described in this specification.

The contents of this disclosure will be specifically explained using the following test examples. However, this disclosure is in no way limited to these. In the following, unless otherwise specified, the experiments were performed under atmospheric pressure and room temperature conditions.

The following items were checked for 588 subjects (398 men and 190 women (average age 45.2 years)) according to the methods described below.

Test Example 1 Presence or absence of plaque (measurement of PlI (Plaque Index))
PlI was measured for six representative teeth per person (Figure 1). The representative teeth were the upper right 6, upper right 1, upper left 6, lower right 6, lower left 1, and lower left 6. However, if tooth 6 was missing, tooth 7 was measured.
PlI is an index showing the degree of plaque adhesion. PlI was measured for six representative teeth according to the following criteria. The value (maximum value) of the site with the most plaque adhesion on each tooth was adopted.
<Standards>
0: No adhesion observed 1: Plaque adhesion on less than 1/3 of the tooth surface 2: Plaque adhesion on 1/3 to less than 2/3 of the tooth surface 3: Plaque adhesion on 2/3 or more of the tooth surface The average value was calculated from the PlI of six representative teeth, and if the average PlI value was 0, it was judged as "no plaque", and if the average PlI value was greater than 0, it was judged as "plaque present".

Test Example 2 Blood antibody titer Measurement was carried out by the CLEIA method (more specifically, the method described in Japanese Patent No. 6716241) using antigen protein 35N (SEQ ID NO: 1) having a GST tag on the N-terminus as an antigen.

ALP-labeled antigen and biotin-labeled antigen were prepared, and a serum sample of a subject was mixed with a solution containing ALP-labeled antigen and a solution containing biotin-labeled antigen to prepare a complex of the antibody against periodontal pathogens contained in the biological sample, the ALP-labeled antigen, and the biotin-labeled antigen. The complex was bound to the porous carrier by contacting with a porous carrier carrying anti-biotin antibody, and the intensity of the chemiluminescence obtained by adding the substrate of ALP (40°C, 1 minute) was measured. A calibration curve was created using a standard positive serum with a clear antibody concentration against periodontal pathogens, and the antibody titer (U/mL) was calculated.
The cutoff value for blood antibody titer was set at 100 U/mL, and subjects were classified into a group of 100 U/mL or more and a group of less than 100 U/mL.

Test Example 3 Classification of Periodontal Disease Community Periodontal Index (CPI) was measured by a dental specialist.
<Standards>
Code 0: Healthy Code 1: Bleeding Code 2: Tartar deposits Code 3: Shallow periodontal pockets (PD=4-5mm)
Code 4: Deep periodontal pockets (PD ≥ 6mm)
The code of each representative tooth was measured, and the maximum code was taken as the representative value for each subject. Codes 1 and 2 were combined to represent gingivitis, and each subject was classified into the following four groups.

1. Classification by the presence or absence of plaque The classification results of periodontal disease in groups with and without plaque adhesion are shown below.

It was confirmed that the group with plaque adhesion had a high proportion of subjects with gingivitis or periodontitis. On the other hand, even in the group without plaque adhesion, approximately 24% of subjects had periodontitis, indicating that the presence or absence of plaque adhesion alone cannot predict the presence or severity of periodontal disease (there is a possibility that subjects at risk of periodontal disease may be overlooked).

2. Classification by the presence or absence of plaque and antibody titer After classifying the subjects into those with and without plaque, they were classified into those with blood antibody titers of 100 U/mL or more and those with titers of less than 100 U/mL. The classification results for periodontal disease in each group are shown below.

It was confirmed that even among groups without plaque, the proportion of subjects with periodontitis was higher in the group with an antibody titer of 100 U/mL or more than in the group with an antibody titer of less than 100 U/mL.
In addition, it was confirmed that, in the group with plaque adhesion, the group with an antibody titer of 100 U/mL or more had a higher proportion of subjects with periodontitis (particularly severe periodontitis) compared to the other groups, and the group with an antibody titer of less than 100 U/mL had a higher proportion of subjects with gingivitis compared to the other groups. Furthermore, compared to the case where subjects were classified only by the presence or absence of plaque (Table 2), it was confirmed that, in the group with plaque adhesion and an antibody titer of 100 U/mL or more, the proportion of subjects with gingivitis decreased and the proportion of subjects with periodontitis increased.
In addition, when plaque is present, the proportion of subjects without periodontal disease is low, while the proportion of subjects with gingivitis and mild periodontitis is high, suggesting that plaque adhesion is involved in the onset of periodontal disease (occurrence of inflammation).In addition, when the antibody titer is high, the proportion of subjects with gingivitis is low, while the proportion of subjects with mild periodontitis and severe periodontitis is high, suggesting that the antibody titer against periodontal pathogens in blood samples is involved in the aggravation of periodontal disease.
These results suggest that classification based on a combination of the presence or absence of plaque adhesion and antibody titer can predict the presence or absence of periodontal disease or its severity with greater accuracy than classification based solely on the presence or absence of plaque adhesion. It was suggested that the combination of the presence or absence of plaque adhesion and antibody titer is an effective evaluation index for predicting the presence or absence of periodontal disease or its severity.

3. Classification by the presence or absence of plaque, antibody titer, and age After classifying into groups with and without plaque, subjects were classified into groups with blood antibody titers of 100 U/mL or more and groups with titers less than 100 U/mL, and the group with blood antibody titers of 100 U/mL or more was further classified into groups with ages of 40 years or more and groups with ages less than 40 years. The classification results for periodontal disease in each group are shown below.

It was confirmed that even in the group without plaque adhesion, the group with an antibody titer of 100 U/mL or more and an age of 40 or older had a higher proportion of subjects with periodontitis compared to the group with an antibody titer of 100 U/mL or more and an age of less than 40. Furthermore, compared with the case where plaque adhesion and antibody titer were combined and classified (Table 3), it was confirmed that in the group without plaque adhesion, with an antibody titer of 100 U/mL or more and an age of less than 40, the proportion of subjects with gingivitis and periodontitis decreased, and the proportion of subjects without periodontitis increased.
Also, in the group with plaque adhesion, it was confirmed that the proportion of subjects with periodontitis (particularly severe periodontitis) was higher in the group with an antibody titer of 100 U/mL or more and age 40 or older than the group with an antibody titer of 100 U/mL or more and age less than 40. Furthermore, compared with the case where plaque adhesion and antibody titer were combined and classified (Table 3), it was confirmed that the proportion of subjects with gingivitis decreased and the proportion of subjects with periodontitis increased in the group with plaque adhesion, an antibody titer of 100 U/mL or more, and age 40 or older.
From the above, it was suggested that by classifying based on a combination of the presence or absence of plaque adhesion, antibody titer, and age, it is possible to predict the presence or absence of periodontal disease or its severity with greater accuracy than by classifying based on the presence or absence of plaque adhesion alone, or by a combination of plaque adhesion and antibody titer. It was suggested that the combination of the presence or absence of plaque adhesion, antibody titer, and age is a more effective evaluation index for predicting the presence or absence of periodontal disease or its severity.

4. Classification by the presence or absence of plaque, antibody titer, and age After classifying into groups with and without plaque, subjects were classified into groups with blood antibody titers of 100 U/mL or more and groups with titers less than 100 U/mL, and the group with blood antibody titers of 100 U/mL or more was further classified into age groups of 50 years or more and groups under 50 years old. The classification results for periodontal disease in each group are shown below.

In the group with no plaque and an antibody titer of 100 U/mL or more, it was confirmed that when age was classified as 50 years, the difference in the proportion of subjects with periodontitis between the group aged 50 years or older and the group aged under 50 years was smaller (the proportion of subjects with mild periodontitis was higher in the group aged under 50 years) compared to when age was classified as 40 years (Table 4).
Furthermore, in the group with plaque adhesion and an antibody titer of 100 U/mL or more, when age was classified as 50 years, it was confirmed that the difference in the proportion of subjects with gingivitis or periodontitis between the group aged 50 years or older and the group aged under 50 years was smaller than when age was classified as 40 years (Table 4) (the proportion of subjects with gingivitis was lower and the proportion of subjects with periodontitis was higher in the group aged under 50 years).
When age was classified into 30 years, there were few subjects (less than 15%) with antibody titers of 100 U/mL or more, suggesting that age is not an appropriate classification criterion.
This suggests that when using age as an indicator, using 40 years of age as the benchmark will enable more accurate prediction of the presence or absence of periodontal disease and its severity.

Claims (7)

1. A method for stratifying a subject, comprising:
Classifying subjects into groups with or without plaque adhesion, and comparing the antibody titer against periodontal pathogens in a blood sample collected from the subjects with a standard value, and classifying the subjects into groups with values equal to or greater than the standard value or less than the standard value,
It is suggested that a subject having plaque adhesion and having an antibody titer equal to or greater than the reference value is likely to have severe periodontitis,
It is suggested that a subject having plaque adhesion and an antibody titer lower than the reference value is likely to have gingivitis,
A method characterized in that a subject who has no plaque and whose antibody titer is equal to or greater than the standard value is suggested to be likely to have periodontitis, and a subject who has no plaque and whose antibody titer is below the standard value is suggested to be likely not to have periodontal disease. 1. A method for stratifying a subject, comprising:
Classifying subjects into groups with or without plaque;
comparing the antibody titer against periodontal pathogens in a blood sample collected from the subject with a standard value and classifying the subject into a group having an antibody titer equal to or greater than the standard value or a group having an antibody titer less than the standard value; and comparing the age of the subject with a standard value and classifying the subject into a group having an antibody titer equal to or greater than the standard value or a group having an antibody titer less than the standard value.
It is suggested that a subject having plaque adhesion, having the antibody titer equal to or greater than the reference value, and having an age equal to or greater than the reference value is highly likely to have severe periodontitis,
It is suggested that a subject having plaque adhesion, having the antibody titer equal to or greater than the reference value, and having an age less than the reference value is highly likely to have gingivitis,
A method characterized in that a subject who has no plaque, whose antibody titer is equal to or greater than the standard value, and whose age is equal to or greater than the standard value is suggested to be likely to have periodontitis, and a subject who has no plaque, whose antibody titer is equal to or greater than the standard value, and whose age is less than the standard value is suggested to be likely not to have periodontal disease. The method according to claim 2, wherein the reference age is 40 years old. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it is used to determine an oral hygiene product or oral hygiene method suitable for the subject. 1. A method for determining an appropriate oral hygiene product for a subject, comprising:
Classifying subjects into groups with or without plaque adhesion, and comparing the antibody titer against periodontal pathogens in a blood sample collected from the subjects with a standard value, and classifying the subjects into groups with values equal to or greater than the standard value or less than the standard value,
determining that an oral hygiene product for improving severe periodontitis is an appropriate oral hygiene product for a subject having plaque adhesion and having an antibody titer equal to or higher than the reference value;
determining that an oral hygiene product for improving gingivitis is an appropriate oral hygiene product for a subject having plaque adhesion and whose antibody titer is less than the reference value;
determining that an oral hygiene product for improving periodontitis is an appropriate oral hygiene product for a subject who has no plaque and whose antibody titer is equal to or greater than the standard value, and determining that an oral hygiene product for preventing the onset of periodontal disease is an appropriate oral hygiene product for a subject who has no plaque and whose antibody titer is less than the standard value;
A method comprising: 1. A method for determining an appropriate oral hygiene product for a subject, comprising:
Classifying subjects into groups with or without plaque;
The method further comprises: comparing the antibody titer against periodontal pathogens in a blood sample collected from the subject with a standard value, and classifying the subject into a group having an antibody titer equal to or greater than the standard value or a group having an antibody titer less than the standard value; and comparing the age of the subject with a standard value, and classifying the subject into a group having an antibody titer equal to or greater than the standard value or a group having an antibody titer less than the standard value;
determining that an oral hygiene product for improving severe periodontitis is an appropriate oral hygiene product for a subject having plaque adhesion, having the antibody titer equal to or greater than the reference value, and being of an age equal to or greater than the reference value;
determining that an oral hygiene product for improving gingivitis is an appropriate oral hygiene product for a subject having plaque adhesion, having an antibody titer equal to or greater than the reference value, and having an age less than the reference value;
determining that an oral hygiene product for improving periodontitis is an appropriate oral hygiene product for a subject who has no plaque, whose antibody titer is equal to or greater than the standard value, and whose age is equal to or greater than the standard value; and determining that an oral hygiene product for preventing the onset of periodontal disease is an appropriate oral hygiene product for a subject who has no plaque, whose antibody titer is equal to or greater than the standard value, and whose age is less than the standard value;
A method comprising: The method according to claim 6, wherein the reference age is 40 years old.

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