Objectives : The aim of this study was to confirm the characteristics of oral malodor patients by evaluating the differences of salivary flow rate, secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) level in saliva between the patient and control groups, and the correlation with the tongue coating, volatile sulfur compound (VSC), salivary flow rate and sIgA level in saliva in the patients group. Methods : Forty-seven patients with oral malodor and twenty healthy volunteers were included in this study. Their tongue coating was assessed with the Winkel tongue coating index, and salivary flow rate, sIgA concentrations in saliva and the level of VSC in oral cavity were measured. Results : There were no significant differences of the salivary flow rate and the sIgA level in saliva between the patient and control groups, but there was a significant relationship between the accumulation of tongue coating and the level of VSC in oral cavity. Conclusions : Our results suggest that tongue coating is closely related to oral malodor, but further studies are needed to confirm the relationship between tongue coating and sIgA level in saliva.