Triclosan Dentifrice and Tongue Cleaner in the Treatment of Malodor

Objectives: Oral malodor afflicts large segments of the population. The unique anatomy of the dorsal tongue surface facilitates the colonization and growth of halitosis-causing bacteria. This investigation examined the effect of treatment for oral malodor on dorsal tongue bacteria. Materials and Methods: 15 adults demonstrating organoleptic scores ³ 3 (scale 0 – 5) and mouth air sulfur levels ³250 ppb were enrolled in this study. Subjects were assessed at baseline and at 28 days following institution of an oral hygiene regimen including use of a triclosan/copolymer dentifrice (Colgate Total^®) and a toothbrush with tongue cleaner (Colgate 360^®) for; (1) organoleptic assessments; (2) mouth air sulfur levels; (3) tongue coating (scale 0 – 3); and, (4) tongue microorganisms from scraping a 2 cm² area of the dorsal tongue surface. Tongue sample microorganisms were analyzed by microscopy and by DNA hybridization using species-specific probes for 17 groups/species of bacteria - a halitosis panel. Results: Baseline samples from the tongue demonstrated large numbers of halitosis-causing bacterial including Peptostreptococcus micros, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia / Prevotella loescheii, Prevotella melaninogenica, Solobacterium mooreii and Streptococcus sp. For all subjects, the 28 day regimen resulted in significant reductions in oral malodor. Post-treatment organoleptic scores and mouth air sulfur levels were similar to those in subjects without oral malodor (p<0.0001). The 28 day regimen also resulted in greater than 70% reduction in bacterial numbers (p<0.001) and significant reductions in the target species including Enterococcus faecalis (p< 0.003), Neisseria sp. (p< 0.008), P. micros (p<0.0007), P. melaninogenica (p<0.02), P. gingivalis (p<0.0001), S. mooreii (p< 0.04), and Streptococci sp (p<0.03). Conclusions: A 28 day oral hygiene regimen with a triclosan/copolymer dentifrice and a toothbrush with tongue cleaner significantly reduced both oral malodor and the presence of halitosis-causing bacteria on the dorsal tongue in all subjects.