Which tongue cleaner works best? a fluorescence showdown
NCT ID NCT07767721
First seen Aug 17, 2026 · Last updated Aug 18, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This trial asks whether a bristled tongue brush, a plastic scraper, or a metal scraper is more effective at removing the biofilm that coats the tongue. Thirty healthy adults aged 18 to 25 will use each device daily for two weeks, with a week off in between, while researchers measure biofilm using fluorescence imaging and a visual coating index. The study also tracks saliva pH and how acceptable each device feels, including any gag reflex.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Tongue cleaning devices: bristled tongue brush, plastic tongue scraper, and metal tongue scraper
- What this could lead to
- If one device proves clearly better at removing tongue biofilm, it could point toward a preferred tool for improving oral hygiene and reducing bad breath.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early crossover study in healthy young adults, so results may not apply to everyone. Differences between devices might be minor, and the trial does not test long-term health outcomes.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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30 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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May 2025
- Finished
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Sep 2025
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 to 30 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Healthy volunteers aged 18 to 25 years * No professional dental cleaning within the previous two weeks * Willing to maintain usual toothbrushing and interdental hygiene practices throughout the study period Exclusion Criteria: * -History of significant systemic disease (e.g. diabetes mellitus, immune disorders) * Clinical salivary gland dysfunction or self-reported xerostomia * Active oral or mucosal infection (e.g. severe periodontitis, extensive caries) * Active mucosal lesions * Fixed orthodontic appliances * Conditions predisposing to severe gagging beyond normal clinical sensitivity * Use of topical or systemic antimicrobials or antibiotics within the previous month
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Istanbul Kent University, Faculty of Dentistry
Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye)
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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