The effectiveness of tongue scrapers compared to conventional brushing for tongue hygiene in students at the Dr. René Puig Bentz Dental Clinic at Pedro Henríquez Ureña University.

In this descriptive, experimental, and quantitative study, the effectiveness of the tongue scraper compared to conventional brushing for tongue hygiene was evaluated in 60 students over the age of 18 at the Dr. René Puig Bentz Dental Clinic of the Pedro Henríquez Ureña National University (UNPHU). The participants were divided into two groups of 30 students each, who used their respective tongue hygiene method for seven consecutive days. Bacterial load was assessed by swabbing the dorsal surface of the tongue before and after the intervention (days 0 and 7), and the results were expressed in colony-forming units per milliliter (CFU/mL). The results showed that the tongue scraper was more effective (73.3%) than conventional brushing (50.0%). At the end of the intervention, none of the participants in either group had a bacterial load classified as high. However, 100% of the participants in the conventional brushing group were in the moderate category, while 73.3% of those using the tongue scraper were in this category, and it was the only method that reduced the bacterial load to the mild level (26.7%). The predominant microorganisms following the procedure were Micrococcus spp. (86.7%), Bacillus spp. (66.7%–70.0%), Clostridium spp. (60.0%–63.3%), and Bacteroides spp. (36.7%–40.0%) in both groups. In conclusion, the tongue scraper proved more effective than conventional brushing at reducing the bacterial load on the tongue, yielding better results in lowering bacterial levels. Therefore, its incorporation is recommended as a complement to tongue hygiene practices within the preventive protocols of the Dr. René Puig Bentz dental clinic, as well as in the academic training of dental students at UNPHU.