Candida species have frequently been isolated from the oral cavities of
a variety of patients, such as elderly people, dentures users,
immunocompromised and health patients. Yeasts may be associated
with immune response and local factors such as poor oral hygiene. It
was evaluated effectiveness of tongue cleaner showing which types
would be preferred by patients, changes in tongue coating and in saliva
yeasts counting. Thirty patients were selected and randomly distributed
into three groups. This crossover blind study evaluated the effect of
tongue cleaning using: a plastic and a steel tongue scraper and a nylon
soft-bristle toothbrush. All patients were instructed to use the cleaners
twice a day for one week (fifteen-day wash-out period). Saliva and
tongue coating samples were collected from each patient from each
test period, the yeasts were counted by colony forming units per mL
(CFU/mL) and the species were identified. The patients were
questioned about cleaner preference. An increase in the percentage of
patients with no tongue coating after scraping was observed. A reduction
in the mean number of
Candida species in tongue coating was observed
only after nylon soft-bristle toothbrush cleaner.
Candida albicans
was
the prevalent species. Volunteers preferred to the steel tongue scraper
(60%). Tongue cleaners reduced the tongue coating and the mean number
of saliva’s yeasts. Degree of tongue coating favors the
Candida species
colonization.
