A cross-over study on the effect of various therapeutic approaches to morning breath odour.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of tongue scraping and inter-dental flossing on morning bad breath in periodontally healthy subjects.


METHODS
A four-step blind, cross-over study was conducted in 19 volunteers, divided into four groups: Group I: tooth brushing; Group II: tooth brushing and inter-dental flossing; Group III: tooth brushing and tongue scraping; and Group IV: tooth brushing, inter-dental flossing and tongue scraping. The volunteers performed these oral hygiene procedures three times a day for 7 days. Seven-day wash-out intervals were observed. Morning mouth breath was assessed organoleptically and by volatile sulphur compound concentrations.


RESULTS
The highest mean organoleptic and volatile sulphur compound measurement values were found in the treatment groups in which tongue scraping was not performed and there were statistical differences between the two groups (p < 0.05). In the organoleptic evaluation (p > 0.05), inter-dental flossing did not show any statistical improvement in the effect of tongue hygiene on morning bad breath, but it significantly reduced the concentration of volatile sulphur compounds (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The findings suggest that tongue scraping appears to be the most important hygienic procedure to reduce morning bad breath in periodontally healthy subjects.
Faveri
Marcelo
M
State University of Maringá, PR, Brazil. mfaveri@prof.ung.br
Hayacibara
Mitsue F
MF
Pupio
Giselle Cancine
GC
Cury
Jaime A
JA
Tsuzuki
Claudia Ota
CO
Hayacibara
Roberto M
RM
D000328:Adult; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003742:Dental Devices, Home Care; D005260:Female; D006209:Halitosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000295:instrumentation; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D012903:Smell / Q000502:physiology; D013457:Sulfur Compounds / Q000032:analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D014059:Tongue / Q000473:pathology; D014099:Toothbrushing
D013457:Sulfur Compounds