Efficacy of mechanical tongue cleaning on taste perception: A systematic review

The aim of the present literary review was to compile the most recent evidence regarding the impact of mechanical tongue cleaning on gustatory perception in patients with a coated tongue. The present study adhered to the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. The bibliographic survey of PubMed®, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases was conducted using the following combination of keywords and Boolean operators: (tongue brushing AND taste) OR (tongue cleaning AND taste) OR (tongue coating AND taste). The quality of studies and the risk of bias were assessed based on the checklist provided by Downs and Black. Four articles were selected for the review based on the established inclusion criteria. The analysis of the data showed a decrease in lingual coating post-brushing in all studies. All articles demonstrated an improvement in gustatory sensitivity following mechanical removal of the lingual patina, though not every study observed a statistically significant increase for the same flavor. The outcomes of this review suggest that mechanical cleaning of the dorsum of the tongue can increase gustatory perception, therefore, it could be considered a promising and cost-effective addition to daily oral hygiene practices.