Abstract
The tongue is one of the primary sources of halitosis. The manual or mechanical removal of biofilm is known to decrease oral malodor.Objective:To evaluate a new tongue hygiene technique hereby referred to as “the X technique” and its effects on both halitosis and the number of microorganisms based on microbiological parameters and diagnostic features of the breath.Material and Methods:The study included thirty patients divided into a control group (patients without systematized guidelines of lingual hygiene, but who performed the mechanical cleaning of tongue dorsum, each in its own way), the 3R group (instructed to perform the movements of the X technique for 3 repetitions at each brushing), and the 6R group (instructed to perform 6 repetitions of the technique at each brushing). After two weeks, a new data collection was performed.Results:Patients in the 6R group presented the lowest score on the organoleptic assessment scale at the second consultation, followed by the 3R group and the controls. Regarding the self-perception of breath by the method of Visual Analog Scale (VAS), the control group did not perceive improvements in oral malodor; the results of the 3R group and the 6R group were similar.Conclusion:These results indicate that the X technique improves both measurements and perceptions of halitosis. Microbiological analyses revealed greatest reduction in the 6R group. The findings show that the X technique reduces both organoleptic scores and the number of bacterial colonies, and improves users’ perceptions of their breath.
Highlights
The term “halitosis” comes from the Latin halitos and osis, it is a term that refers to unpleasant breath
There is physiological halitosis, known as morning halitosis, which appears after several hours of sleep and fasting, in response to the decomposition of food particles and bacterial agglomeration aggravated by reduction in salivary flow and pH.2
Causes include certain types of foods, poor oral hygiene, periodontal disease, pericoronitis, ulcers, low salivary flow, food impaction, poorly fitting dental fillings, abscesses, prostheses, alcohol and nicotine consumption, infections in the oral cavity, and microbial metabolism in the dorsum of the tongue.4-6. Because they exhibit characteristics that facilitate proteolytic/ putrefactive microbial activities, the tongue and the subgingival environment are considered the main sources of volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs), and high concentrations of these gases in the oral cavity may indicate breath abnormalities
Summary
The term “halitosis” comes from the Latin halitos (expired air) and osis (a pathological abnormality), it is a term that refers to unpleasant breath. Causes include certain types of foods, poor oral hygiene, periodontal disease, pericoronitis, ulcers, low salivary flow, food impaction, poorly fitting dental fillings, abscesses, prostheses, alcohol and nicotine consumption, infections in the oral cavity, and microbial metabolism in the dorsum of the tongue.. Causes include certain types of foods, poor oral hygiene, periodontal disease, pericoronitis, ulcers, low salivary flow, food impaction, poorly fitting dental fillings, abscesses, prostheses, alcohol and nicotine consumption, infections in the oral cavity, and microbial metabolism in the dorsum of the tongue.4-6 Because they exhibit characteristics that facilitate proteolytic/ putrefactive microbial activities, the tongue and the subgingival environment are considered the main sources of volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs), and high concentrations of these gases in the oral cavity may indicate breath abnormalities.. While periodontitis is associated with halitosis, there is evidence that periodontally healthy people may exhibit significant levels of oral malodor. The dorsum of the tongue is extensive and irregular, with cracks and papillary structures capable of retaining considerable amounts of substrates (dead leukocytes, shed epithelial cells), and it is an ideal site for the growth of microorganisms.
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