Effect of Adding Tongue Scraping to Standard Periodontal Care on Bad Breath in Adults with Periodontitis

What this Trial Is About

Periodontitis is a condition that can lead to tooth loss, which affects chewing and appearance, and can also cause bad breath halitosis. Standard treatment involves cleaning above and below the gum line to reduce bacteria and remove calculus. This research aims to explore whether adding tongue scraping to the usual oral hygiene instructions helps improve bad breath in patients with periodontitis. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups receiving oral hygiene instructions without tongue scraping, with tongue scraping throughout the study, or with tongue scraping only after non-surgical periodontal treatment. Tongue scraping involves gently cleaning the tongue twice daily. The study follows guidelines recently introduced by the European Federation of Periodontology and evaluates the additional impact of tongue scraping. During the 18-week study, participants will undergo assessments of bad breath using organoleptic scores and measurements of volatile sulfur compounds. Researchers will also track periodontal health and oral hygiene improvements. Participants will receive standard initial periodontal therapy and oral hygiene guidance, with follow-up visits to monitor treatment effects and adherence to hygiene instructions.

The Additional Effect of Tongue Scraping on Halitosis Parameters in Initial Periodontal Therapy