Tongue scrapping as a means of reducing oral mutans streptococci

Abstract

Mutans streptococci (MS) are one of the most virulent cariogenic pathogens in the oral cavity. The effects of three oral hygiene techniques on salivary mutans streptococci levels were evaluated to see which mechanism would be most efficient in reducing salivary MS levels. Sixty patients, all in the permanent dentition, were selected and randomly distributed into three groups. Group I was asked to use a tongue scraper to brush the tongue once daily in the morning after normal tooth brushing routine. Group II was asked to place and let dissolve a Listerine Oral Care StripTM on the tongue once daily after normal oral hygiene routine. Group III was asked to rinse once every morning, for thirty seconds, with a saturated saline solution after routine tooth brushing. The instructions were done for a period of seven days. Baseline, one hour, three day, and seven day saliva samples were obtained and plated on CRT" by Vivadent MS-sensitive agar. All treatments groups show a significant reduction in colony counts from baseline and one or more post treatment periods and at one or more time periods between treatment groups. The most effective treatment in reducing colony counts was seen within Group I "Tongue Scraping" which demonstrated the greatest change from baseline to each of the post treatment periods. The least effective was Group II "Listerine Strip" which showed a statistically insignificant increase in colony count from baseline to 1-Hour and a significant decrease from baseline at the 7-day period only.

The comparative evaluation of the effects of tongue cleaning on salivary levels of mutans streptococci in children

“…Our data are in agreement with White and Armaleh (23) who compared the efficiency of tongue scraping, saturated saline rinse and Listerine strips in reducing salivary mutans streptococci levels. They found that all the treatment groups showed a significant reduction in colony counts from baseline to one or more post‐treatment periods.…”

“…They found that all the treatment groups showed a significant reduction in colony counts from baseline to one or more post‐treatment periods. Tongue scraping was found to be more effective than saturated saline rinse and Listerine strips in reducing colony counts (23). However, their study was carried out on adult subjects who practiced the oral hygiene measures only once daily for seven days.…”

Tongue-coating as risk indicator for aspiration pneumonia in edentate elderly

“…Several reports indicated that tongue-cleaning reduced the number of oral bacteria (Gilmore and Bhaskar, 1971, 1972, Yonezawa, et al, 2003 and odor (Yaegaki and Sanada, 1992). Tongue-cleaning using a tongue-brush reduced salivary mutans streptococci (White and Armaleh, 2004). In this study, 40 of the patients were classified according to number of salivary viable microorganisms, with the group yielding a high viable bacterial cell number showing a higher average score for TPI.…”

Effect of Tongue Cleaning Methods and Oral Mutans Streptococci Level

“…Studies have shown that dorsum of the tongue is an important reservoir for mutans streptococci. 5 Further more, studies have also found a significant correlation between the prevalence of mutans streptococci in saliva and its prevalence on the dorsum of the tongue. 5 Mutans streptococci (MS) are one of the most virulent cariogenic pathogens in the oral cavity.…”

“…5 Further more, studies have also found a significant correlation between the prevalence of mutans streptococci in saliva and its prevalence on the dorsum of the tongue. 5 Mutans streptococci (MS) are one of the most virulent cariogenic pathogens in the oral cavity. Toothbrushing alone is effective in reducing bacterial counts in the mouth, but not dramatically.…”