Tongue Coating and Tongue Brushing: A Literature Review

General Oral Health, Bad Breath, Halitosis

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File Size: 1.9 MB

Article Notes:
Tongue Cleaning

Author(s):
MM Danser, S Mantilla Gomez, GA Van de Weijden

Published By:
International Journal of Dental Hygiene

Date Published:
May, 2003

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SUMMARY:
This paper reviews the role of the tongue as a habitat for oral microorganisms and the potential need for tongue cleaning as part of a daily oral hygiene regimen. Bacteria colonizing the tongue and pockets within the gums are associated with volatile sulfur compounds in periodontal health and disease. Volatile sulfur compounds are the cause of bad breath. The amount of coating on the surface of the tongue by patients that complained of bad breath was significantly higher than those without bad breath. The regular brushing or scraping of the tongue aimed at removing the coating on the tongue's surface, has been found to be successful in reducing bad breath.

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