Cochrane · intervention · CD005519
Tongue scraping for treating halitosis
Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · 2006 · Cochrane Library
Full textEvery question was extracted from the full review (methods and results), not only its Summary of Findings table.
Questions
5
current version
GRADE rated
0
No studies
3
Included studies
2
as reported
No studies 3 · 60%Ungraded 2 · 40%Very low 0 · 0%Low 0 · 0%Moderate 0 · 0%High 0 · 0%
Ungraded means an effect was reported without a GRADE rating; it is not a gap. No studies means the review found nothing to answer the question. The six categories are a display order, not a score.
Review question
| Element | Planned (methods) | Found (results) |
|---|---|---|
| Population | Adults (over 18 years) with a clinical or self-assessed diagnosis of halitosis | Adults with halitosis and raised baseline VSC (n=40); Seemann 2001: 30 adults (15 male, 15 female) from a bad-breath consultation clinic, Germany, baseline VSC > 130 ppb (28 analyzed); Pedrazzi 2004: 10 adults aged 20 to 50 years, Brazil |
| Intervention | Tongue scraping / mechanical tongue cleaning (any tongue scraper, tongue cleaner or toothbrush used to clean the tongue) | Tongue cleaner (One Drop Only, brush and scraper) (n=28); Tongue scraper (Tongue-Putzer) (n=28); Polystyrene scraper (n=10) |
| Comparison | Placebo; nothing (no intervention); mouthwash; other interventions (e.g. toothbrush used to clean the tongue) | Toothbrush (n=38) |
| Outcomes | Primary: self-expressed (perceived) and organoleptic (human nose) assessment of halitosis using a validated malodor intensity scale; Secondary: halitosis measured by halimeter (portable sulfide monitor) or gas chromatography with flame-photometric detection; Adverse effects (hypersensitivity to mouthwashes; physical trauma to tongue tissue from scrapers) | VSC levels by portable sulfide monitor (n=40); Adverse effects and acceptability questionnaire (n=10); primary self-expressed/organoleptic outcomes not reported |
| Study designs | Randomized controlled trial (RCT) | 2 randomized controlled trials, both cross-over design |
| Timing | Minimum 4 weeks (planned) | Very short follow-up: immediately to 35 minutes post-intervention (Seemann 2001); 1 week (Pedrazzi 2004) |
Search date: 2005-09. Databases: Cochrane Oral Health Group Trials Register; Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL); MEDLINE; EMBASE
Questions and results
Show all 2 versionsTongue scraping (mechanical tongue cleaning) vs Placebo or no intervention (nothing)
Population: Adults (over 18 years) with a clinical or self-assessed diagnosis of halitosis
| Outcome | Effect | Evidence | Status / GRADE |
|---|---|---|---|
Outcome NR Minimum 4 weeks (planned) | No eligible randomized controlled trials comparing tongue scraping with placebo or no intervention were identified. | 0 studies | No studies |
Tongue scraping (mechanical tongue cleaning) vs Mouthwash or other chemical intervention
Population: Adults (over 18 years) with a clinical or self-assessed diagnosis of halitosis
| Outcome | Effect | Evidence | Status / GRADE |
|---|---|---|---|
Outcome NR Minimum 4 weeks (planned) | No randomized controlled trials comparing mechanical tongue cleaning with mouthwashes were identified; the review notes "the somewhat unexpected lack of randomized controlled trials comparing the effectiveness of… | 0 studies | No studies |
Tongue scraper or tongue cleaner (One Drop Only tongue cleaner; Tongue-Putzer scraper; polystyrene scraper) vs Toothbrush (used to clean the tongue)
Population: Adults (over 18 years) with a clinical or self-assessed diagnosis of halitosis
| Outcome | Effect | Evidence | Status / GRADE |
|---|---|---|---|
Self-expressed (perceived) or organoleptic (human nose) assessment of halitosis Minimum 4 weeks (planned) | Neither of the two included trials provided any self expressed (perceived) or organoleptic (human nose) assessments of halitosis (the review's primary outcomes); no data. | 0 studies | No studies |
Volatile sulfur compound (VSC) levels measured by portable sulfide monitor Immediately to 35 min post-intervention (Seemann 2001); 1 week (Pedrazzi 2004) | No summary of findings table or GRADE assessment (pre-GRADE review); narrative synthesis, data not pooled. Seemann 2001: peak VSC reduction 42% with the tongue cleaner, 40% with the tongue scraper and 33% with the… | 2 studies · 40 participants | Ungraded |
Adverse effects (tongue trauma, nausea) and acceptability 1 week (Pedrazzi 2004) | Pedrazzi 2004: six of ten (60%) participants complained of nausea and one participant of tongue trauma, only with the toothbrush; all participants were receptive to the tongue scraper. Seemann 2001: no adverse effects… | 2 studies | Ungraded |