There's no conclusive evidence
to indicate which approach -- mouthwash, breath
mint, spray, chewing gum or mechanical tongue cleaning
-- is most effective for treating bad breath (halitosis),
says a new review of previous clinical studies.
"From the results of some low-powered
trials, tongue cleaning, scraping and brushing do
appear to have some benefit at reducing halitosis,
and the effects appear to be short-lived,"
review co-investigator Zbys Fedorowicz, a periodontist
at the Ministry of Health in Bahrain, said in a
prepared statement. "But we were unable to
find any reliable evidence confirming any benefits
of using tongue-scraping over mouthwash, or vice-versa,
at reducing halitosis."
Halitosis is caused by accumulated bacteria and
the decay of food particles and other debris in
the mouth.
Currently, there are no standard and accepted methods
for treating halitosis. Mouthwashes, sprays, mints
and gums provide a competing and temporary smell
that masks bad breath. Some mouth rinses have ingredients
that neutralize the odor or the bacteria that produce
it.
Tongue brushing and scraping dislodge trapped food
and bacteria, which can also be reduced by improving
oral hygiene.
The findings appear in the latest issue of the
journal The Cochrane Library.
