Relation between Tongue Cleaning Effect and Type of Brush

Abstract

[Objective]　Tongue cleaning plays an important role in the prevention of aspiration pneumonia and halitosis. Although tongue brushes of various shapes and materials are available, there are few reports that compare the tongue cleaning effect of different brushes, so it is difficult for nonprofessional dental staff to select the optimal tongue brush. The purpose of this study was to set up criteria for selecting the optimal tongue brush.

[Methods] Thirty-nine dependent elderly in a nursing home were divided into three groups. A tongue brush with double-sided fine nylon brushes (group A), a tongue brush with arch wire-torsion brush (group B), and a foam brush (group C) were used by groups A, B, and C, respectively. Tongue cleaning was implemented by caregivers (nonprofessional dental staff) for 14 days. Tongue coating was evaluated by a dentist and dental hygienist. Caregivers filled out questionnaires about oral hygiene.

[Results and discussion]　The thickness of the tongue coating showed a significant improvement in all groups (p＜0.05). In particular, the elderly with a thick tongue coating at the beginning of the study showed a significant improvement in group A (p＜0.05). The pain was less in groups A and C, and stickiness of secretion was improved in groups B and C, although there was no statistically significant difference. There were cases in which tongue cleaning was interrupted because of pain in group B. The less pain with brush A might have resulted in more effective tongue cleaning.

[Conclusion]　The tongue brush with double-sided fine nylon brushes was effective for a thick tongue coating, while the tongue brush with arch wire-torsion brush and the foam brush reduced the stickiness. Selection of the optimal tongue brush may result in more effective cleaning of the tongue coating.