Comparison of Three Tongue Cleaners for Removing Tongue Coating

Brief Summary

This randomised three-period crossover study compared the effectiveness of three tongue-cleaning devices - a bristled tongue brush, a plastic tongue scraper and a metal tongue scraper - in removing tongue biofilm. Thirty healthy volunteers aged 18 to 30 used each device once daily for 14 consecutive days, with 7-day washout periods between devices during which no tongue cleaning was performed. Tongue biofilm was measured objectively by Quantitative Light-induced Fluorescence-Digital (QLF-D) imaging, alongside the visual Tongue Coating Index, salivary pH, and participant-reported acceptability including gag reflex.