AbstractThe aim of the study was to assess the occurrence of some putative periodonto‐pathogens in “test” and “control” sites in “diseased” and “non‐diseased” persons, respectively, from an adult rural Kenyan population exhibiting poor oral hygiene and widespread loss of attachment (LA). 14 persons (2 mm and no pockets ≥4 mm associated with LA. Paperpoint samples from test and control sites as well as a scraping sample from the dorsum of tongue were examined for presence ofActinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Bacteroides intermedius, B. melaninogenicusgroup,Capnocytophaga, Selenomonas spp., andWolinella recta. P. gingivaliswas found in 79% of test sites and 36% of control sites in “diseased” persons, and in 18% and 35% of test and control sites, respectively, in “non‐diseased” persons. “No other bacterial group discriminated significantly between test and control sites or between diseased and non‐diseased subjects. The surprisingly high occurrence ofP. gingivalisin non‐diseased subjects, both subgingivally and on tongue, indicates that deep periodontal pockets are not pre