Prevalence of Tongue Cleaning Using a Toothbrush: A Questionnaire Survey in Fukui Prefecture, Japan

Abstract

Objective. The aim of this study was to investigate the tongue cleaning habits using toothbrushes among outpatients of the University of Fukui Hospital and a private hospital in Fukui Prefecture. Methods. We administered a questionnaire survey to volunteers detailing tongue cleaning habits using toothbrushes. The content of the questions in this survey were as follows: gender, age, frequency of tongue cleaning, portion of tongue cleaning, and purposes of tongue cleaning. Results. We had 1,014 volunteers of various ages participating in this study. Regarding the frequency of tongue cleaning, 187 (18.4%) of all participants replied, "Every day", and 346 (34.1%) replied, "Sometimes". Regarding tongue cleaning of the 533 participants with active tongue cleaning habits, 242 (45.4%) participants replied, "The center of the dorsum of the tongue", and 274 (51.4%) replied, "The entire tongue". When analyzing the purpose of tongue cleaning, 346 (64.9%) participants replied, "To remove the tongue stain", 192 (36.0%) participants replied, "To remove the tongue coating", and 240 (45.0%) participants replied, "To manage halitosis". Conclusions. This study clarified that a wide range of age groups in the nonhospitalized general public practiced tongue cleaning habits using a toothbrush for various purposes.