ORAL HEALTH EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE PROGRAM
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Title Limited Effectiveness of Using Tongue Scrapers To Reduce Halitosis Compared To Traditional Brushing
Clinical Question In patients suffering from halitosis is a tongue scraper a more effective way in reducing halitosis when compared to a traditional toothbrush?
Clinical Bottom Line For patients suffering from bad breath, the use of a tongue scraper does not consistently reduce bad breath when compared to using a normal toothbrush. This is based off a systematic review of two randomized controlled clinical trials.
Best Evidence (you may view more info by clicking on the PubMed ID link)
PubMed ID Author / Year Patient Group Study type
(level of evidence)
#1) 16625641Outhouse/2006Heterogenic group of 40 participants Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials
Key resultsOne trial showed reductions of volatile sulfur compound (VSC) of 42% by use of tongue cleaner, 40% with the tongue scraper and 33% with a toothbrush. Any differences between controls were analyzed by the Friedman and Wilcoxon signed rank tests with P < 0.05.In the other trial, the differences were compared by the Dunn method with alpha = 0.01. This trial showed a reduction of VSC of 75% with use of tongue scraper and 45% with the toothbrush. There was a statistically significant difference between the effectiveness of the tongue scraper and the toothbrush in reducing VSC values.
Evidence Search ("Tongue"[Mesh]) AND "Halitosis"[Mesh]
Comments on
The Evidence
This is a systematic review of 2 clinical randomized clinical trials with a total population of 40 participants, assessing the effectiveness of reducing bad breath through the use of a tongue scraper and a traditional toothbrush. The authors described their selection criteria and how they collected their data between the two trials.
Applicability The systematic review did not detail the demographics for the 40 individuals study. Because the study resulted with inconclusive evidence in regards to the effectiveness of tongue scrapers caution should be taken in recommending products for patients seeking reduction in halitosis.
Specialty/Discipline (Public Health) (General Dentistry) (Dental Hygiene)
Keywords Tongue Scraper, Halitosis
ID# 2278
Date of submission: 04/19/2012spacer
E-mail mcintyrea@livemail.uthscsa.edu
Author Austin McIntyre
Co-author(s)
Co-author(s) e-mail
Faculty mentor/Co-author Suman Challa, BDS, MS
Faculty mentor/Co-author e-mail challas@uthscsa.edu
Basic Science Rationale
(Mechanisms that may account for and/or explain the clinical question, i.e. is the answer to the clinical question consistent with basic biological, physical and/or behavioral science principles, laws and research?)
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