The Effect of Tongue Cleaning in Periodontitis Patients

The Effect of Tongue Scraping Compared to Tongue Cleaning on the Tongue Coating of Periodontitis Patients

The aim of this study was to examine in periodontitis patients with visible tongue coating the changes in microbial load (aerobic and anaerobic) of the 14 day use of a tongue scraper versus the use of a regular toothbrush to clean the tongue.

Volatile sulphur compounds (VSC's) are the most important causes of bad breath. Since the micro-organisms that produce VSC's are also periodopathogens, intuitively, one would think that there is a positive correlation between VSC levels in exhaled breath and periodontitis. However, not all periodontitis patients have bad breath. A possible explanation can be a positive relationship between tongue coating an bad breath. In the past, tongue cleaning was already researched in an oral healthy population. This research aimed to examine in periodontitis patients with visible tongue coating the changes in microbial load (aerobic and anaerobic) of the 14 day use of a tongue scraper versus the use of a regular toothbrush to clean the tongue. Additionally changes in tongue coating; and patient perception about tongue cleaning was researched.

In this group the subjects are explained how to use a plastic loop-formed tongue cleaner (Halita® tongue cleaner (Dentaid, Spain)) to clean their tongues.

In this group the subjects are explained how to use a toothbrush (Oral-B® Indicator® medium tooth brush) to clean their tongues.

The patients were instructed to start cleaning the tongue by two pulling strokes along the median sulcus of the tongue, followed by two pulling strokes along the lateral edges of the tongue.

The patients who were assigned to the tooth brush group were taught to perform three forward and backward strokes along the median sulcus and at each lateral part of the tongue.

Inclusion Criteria: systemically healthy patients periodontitis patients Exclusion Criteria: already using a tongue cleaning device use of antibiotics the previous 6 months rinsing with a chlorhexidine mouth rinse the past month smokers patients who underwent periodontal therapy the past three years were not included.

Quirynen M, Avontroodt P, Soers C, Zhao H, Pauwels M, van Steenberghe D. Impact of tongue cleansers on microbial load and taste. J Clin Periodontol. 2004 Jul;31(7):506-10. doi: 10.1111/j.0303-6979.2004.00507.x.