P19 A study for the effect of tongue cleaning

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate breath odor reduction after giving tongue cleaning instruction to adults. The breath odor of 26 subjects (ages 19–77) was measured before and after tongue cleaning instruction. They were instructed to scrape away tongue coating with a Dental Pro multi‐tufted tongue brush (Jacks co. Ltd.) once or twice a day. They used the tongue brush until they could see no more plaque on their tongue. Oral malodor was evaluated using: two portable sulphide monitors (Halimeter RH‐17, Interscan Co.) and Brethtron, (Yoshida Co.), gas chromatography (GC‐8A, Shimazu) and organoleptic measurements. Organoleptic measurements were estimated on a scale of 0 to 5 as follows : 0 = no odor, 1 = barely noticeable odor, 2 = slight odor, 3 = moderate odor, 4 = strong odor, 5 = severe odor. The subjects were asked to refrain from brushing, eating, drinking, smoking and using mouthwash 2 h before each examination. Tongue coating status was evaluated in five grades by inspection, according to distribution area and thickness of tongue coating. Probing depth, bleeding on probing and dental plaque were assessed. One week of tongue cleaning resulted in reductions in tongue coating status and breath odor. As a result of the before and after measurements, no correlation was observed between tongue cleaning as instructed and bleeding on probing or dental plaque. According to a questionnaire given 1 week after the study, tongue coating status had reverted to pre‐cleaning condition in about 1 day. Therefore, we concluded that tongue cleaning should be done at least once a day to control breath odor.