Plaque · Adults, 16 years and older (dentate)
Interdental brushing plus toothbrushing may leads to lower plaque compared with toothbrushing alone (low certainty).
Plaque · Adults, 16 years and older (dentate)
It is very uncertain whether interdental brushing plus toothbrushing changes plaque compared with flossing plus toothbrushing (very low certainty).
SMD -0.47 [-0.84, -0.11]
5 studies · 290 participants
Very low
SMD 0.10 [-0.13, 0.33]
7 studies · 326 participants
Low
SMD -2.14 [-5.25, 0.97]
2 studies · 107 participants
Very low
Plaque · Adults, 16 years and older (dentate)
It is very uncertain whether rubber/elastomeric cleaning stick plus toothbrushing changes plaque compared with flossing plus toothbrushing (very low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Plaque · Adults, 16 years and older (dentate)
It is very uncertain whether wooden cleaning stick plus toothbrushing changes plaque compared with toothbrushing alone (very low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Plaque · Adults, 16 years and older (dentate)
It is very uncertain whether rubber/elastomeric cleaning stick plus toothbrushing changes plaque compared with interdental brushing plus toothbrushing (very low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Plaque · Adults, 16 years and older (dentate)
It is very uncertain whether wooden cleaning stick plus toothbrushing changes plaque compared with flossing plus toothbrushing (very low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Plaque · Adults, 16 years and older (dentate)
Oral irrigation plus toothbrushing showed no clear difference in plaque compared with toothbrushing alone (low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Plaque · Adults, 16 years and older (dentate)
It is very uncertain whether flossing plus toothbrushing changes plaque compared with toothbrushing alone (very low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Plaque · Adults, 16 years and older (dentate)
It is very uncertain whether rubber/elastomeric cleaning stick plus toothbrushing changes plaque compared with toothbrushing alone (very low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Plaque · Adults, 16 years and older (dentate)
It is very uncertain whether oral irrigation plus toothbrushing changes plaque compared with flossing plus toothbrushing (very low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Plaque index (PI) / oral hygiene · People undergoing orthodontic treatment (any age; 9 to 34 years in included studies)
Chlorhexidine mouthwash reduced Plaque Index versus placebo, but certainty is very low.
1 finding from 1 review
Plaque control · Children or adolescents
One RCT reported superior plaque control with a gamified mobile health app versus a conventional method; no effect estimate or GRADE assessment was reported.
1 finding from 1 review
Plaque · Patients with cleft lip and palate (CLP)
Plaque index does not differ significantly between unilateral and bilateral cleft lip and palate (MD -0.13, 95% CI -0.38 to 0.12; ungraded).
1 finding from 1 review
Plaque · Individuals assessed for periodontal health (mainly children and adolescents, age >2 years)
Persons with orofacial cleft have a higher plaque index than healthy controls (MD 0.29, 95% CI 0.24 to 0.34; low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Plaque · Adults undergoing orthodontic treatment
Aligners may reduce plaque index compared with fixed appliances in adults at 6-12 weeks (MD -0.58, 95% CI -0.82 to -0.34; very low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Plaque · Adolescents/teenagers undergoing orthodontic treatment
A single study reported a lower full-mouth plaque score with aligners versus fixed appliances in adolescents at 12 months (MD -43.48, 95% CI -47.65 to -39.31; ungraded).
3 findings from 1 review
MD -43.48 [-47.65, -39.31]
1 study
GRADE not reported
MD -0.40 [-0.77, -0.03]
1 study
GRADE not reported
MD -14.78 [-16.74, -12.82]
1 study
GRADE not reported
Plaque · Children aged 5-6 years in Ajman schools
Brushing at least twice daily was associated with a lower mean plaque score.
1 finding from 1 review
Plaque · Children aged 5-6 years in Ajman schools
High snack consumption was associated with a higher mean plaque score.
1 finding from 1 review
Plaque prevalence · Preschool children of incarcerated mothers in UAE prison nurseries
Plaque prevalence was 93.8% versus 81.8% in comparison children.
1 finding from 1 review
Prevalence 93.8
1 study
GRADE not reported
Plaque · Adults (18 years or older) needing replacement of one premolar or incisor with a cantilevered fixed dental prosthesis
Metal-free cantilevered FDPs (feldspathic-veneered zirconia) showed no clear difference in plaque index (PI) compared with metal-ceramic cantilevered FDPs; GRADE not reported.
1 finding from 1 review