Periodontitis, Tongue Coating
Conditions
Keywords
Periodontitis, Tongue coating, Tongue cleaning, Bacterial load
Brief summary
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.
Detailed description
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.
Interventions
DEVICETongue scraper
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.
DEVICEToothbrush
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.
Sponsors
Universitaire Ziekenhuizen KU Leuven
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 70 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
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.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Extension of the tongue coating | 14 days | Extension of the tongue coating measured according to Miyazaki (1995) and Winkel (2003). |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Bacterial load measured by culturing methods | 14 days | Microbiological composition of the tongue coating. |
| Bacterial load measured by means of qPCR | 14 days | Microbiological composition of the tongue coating. |
| Bacterial composition of unstimulated saliva (measured with the aid of culturing methods) | 14 days | Microbiological composition of the saliva. |
| Bacterial composition of unstimulated saliva (measured with qPCR) | 14 days | Microbiological composition of the saliva. |
| Experience of the subject of tongue coating related factors measured using a questionnaire | 14 days | Experience of the subject of the breath odour, taste perception; and cleanliness of the tongue. |
Countries
Belgium
Outcome results
None listed