Key Takeaway
A 90-day RCT found that adding a lingual scraper to regular oral hygiene significantly reduced halitosis, performing comparably to antimicrobial photodynamic therapy.
Summary
This randomized, controlled, single-blinded trial compared the effectiveness of two adjunct treatments for halitosis over a 90-day follow-up period: antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) and lingual scraping, both added to standard oral hygiene practices.
Participants with diagnosed halitosis were randomly assigned to one of three groups: oral hygiene alone (control), oral hygiene plus aPDT, or oral hygiene plus lingual scraping. Volatile sulfur compound (VSC) levels and organoleptic scores were measured at baseline, 30 days, 60 days, and 90 days.
Both the aPDT and lingual scraper groups showed significant reductions in halitosis compared to the control group over the 90-day period. Importantly, the lingual scraper group achieved comparable results to the aPDT group, demonstrating that a simple, low-cost mechanical intervention can be as effective as a technology-based approach. The results support tongue scraping as an evidence-based addition to daily oral hygiene for managing bad breath.