Impacto do uso do raspador de língua na qualidade de vida de indivíduos com halitose intra-oral – Estudo Piloto

Abstract

Halitosis is considered an interference factor in quality of life, since it has negative consequences on the social relationship of its patients. Intraoral halitosis is related to the production of volatile sulfur compounds from the tongue coating, which can be controlled by mechanical removal. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the tongue scraper on the quality of life of subjects with intraoral halitosis. A total of 13 patients were selected from the Department of Dentistry of the Federal University of Sergipe, aged 18 years and older, with a complaint of halitosis and Winkel's Lingual Saburra Index (LSI)> 4. Two tongue scraper designs were used in this study, so participants were randomly divided into two groups: A- commercial tongue scraper (n=7) and B-alternative tongue scraper obtained from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic bottles (n=6). At the initial appointment, the Winkel LSI was performed, the volunteers answered questions from the Oral Health Profile -14 (OHIP-14) and received instructions for home use of the scraper (morning and evening). After 14 days, Winkel's LSI was performed before and after mechanical removal of the tongue coating by the users, who answered the OHIP-14 (final phase) questions again. 1 participant from group A did not return to the second appointment. Data obtained for each Winkel LSI group before and after tongue coating removal, as well as data from the OHIP-14 of the initial and final phases were submitted to the Wilcoxon test (α=0.05). For intergroup analysis, the differences between the two times were transformed into percentage reduction and these data were submitted to the Mann-Whitney test (α=0,05). Both the tongue scrapers significantly reduced Winkel’s LSI, commercial (P=0,0477) and PET (P=0,0263), with similar results between them for the reduction percentage (Commercial: 20±13%; PET: 33±21%). There was a significant reduction in the perception of impact on the quality of life after 14 days of use of scrapers, with similar results between them (Commercial: 61± 9%; PET: 66±25%). Within the limitations of this pilot study, it was concluded that both tongue scrapers improved the quality of life of users with intraoral halitosis.