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Each row is one question a systematic review asked: who, what, compared with what, and which outcome, with the effect it found and how certain that is. Words match anywhere in the field.

Limit to evidence status or GRADE (optional)

17 questions in 6 reviews · cluster CL0140

current versions
No studies 0 · 0%Ungraded 8 · 47.1%Very low 9 · 52.9%Low 0 · 0%Moderate 0 · 0%High 0 · 0%

Ungraded means an effect was reported without a GRADE rating; it is not a gap. No studies means the review found nothing to answer the question. The six categories are a display order, not a score.

Intervention categories, outcome domains and clusters are a proposed key pending human validation. Clear all filters

QuestionEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Chlorhexidine mouthwash vs Placebo
Cariogenic bacteria (Mutans streptococci) · Orthodontic patients · ≤ 3 months
The efficacy of mouthwashes on oral microorganisms and gingivitis in patients undergoing orthodontic… (2023)
Colony count of MS was significantly reduced compared to placebos according to three studies [34; 48; 52]; colony count of MS was slightly reduced compared to placebo in a short time in one study [40].4 studiesVery low
Chlorhexidine mouthwash vs Blank control
Cariogenic bacteria (Mutans streptococci) · Orthodontic patients · ≤ 3 months
The efficacy of mouthwashes on oral microorganisms and gingivitis in patients undergoing orthodontic… (2023)
Colony count of MS was significantly reduced compared to blank control according to one study [53]; one study reported a significant reduction compared to baseline [51].2 studiesVery low
Fluoride mouthwash vs Blank control
Cariogenic bacteria (Mutans streptococci) · Orthodontic patients · ≤ 3 months
The efficacy of mouthwashes on oral microorganisms and gingivitis in patients undergoing orthodontic… (2023)
Colony count of MS was significantly reduced compared to baseline according to two studies [33; 34].2 studiesVery low
Chlorhexidine (CHX) mouthwash (adjunct to mechanical cleaning) vs Blank control (no mouthwash; before-after comparison)
Plaque Index (PI, Silness & Loe 1964) · Orthodontic patients (any age) undergoing orthodontic treatment (mostly fixed appliances) · <=3 months (short-term)
The efficacy of mouthwashes on oral microorganisms and gingivitis in patients undergoing orthodontic… (2023)
WMD -0.70 [-1.12, -0.27]4 studies · 188 participantsVery low
Herbal mouthwash vs Placebo
Cariogenic bacteria (Mutans streptococci) · Orthodontic patients · ≤ 3 months
The efficacy of mouthwashes on oral microorganisms and gingivitis in patients undergoing orthodontic… (2023)
Colony count of MS was significantly reduced compared to placebo [52]; colony count was slightly reduced compared to placebo in a short time in one study [40].2 studiesVery low
Chlorhexidine mouthwash vs Placebo
Plaque Index · Orthodontic patients · ≤ 3 months
The efficacy of mouthwashes on oral microorganisms and gingivitis in patients undergoing orthodontic… (2023)
Plaque Index was significantly reduced compared to placebos according to two studies [20; 32].2 studiesVery low
Fluoride mouthwash vs Blank control
Cariogenic bacteria (Mutans streptococci) · Orthodontic patients · ≥ 12 months
The efficacy of mouthwashes on oral microorganisms and gingivitis in patients undergoing orthodontic… (2023)
Colony count of MS was similar to blank control according to two studies [37; 59].2 studiesVery low
Probiotic mouthwash (e.g., Lactobacillus-based) vs Blank control (no mouthwash; before-after comparison)
Cariogenic bacteria (Mutans streptococci colony count) · Orthodontic patients (any age) undergoing orthodontic treatment (mostly fixed appliances) · <=3 months (short-term)
The efficacy of mouthwashes on oral microorganisms and gingivitis in patients undergoing orthodontic… (2023)
Colony count of MS was significantly reduced compared to blank control [53]. Colony count of MS was insignificantly increased compared to baseline [33].2 studiesVery low
Herbal mouthwash vs Blank control
Cariogenic bacteria (Mutans streptococci) · Orthodontic patients · ≤ 3 months
The efficacy of mouthwashes on oral microorganisms and gingivitis in patients undergoing orthodontic… (2023)
Colony count of MS was significantly reduced compared to baseline [48]; another study found an insignificant reduction compared to baseline [51].2 studiesVery low
Chlorhexidine (mouthrinse or gel), as part of oral hygiene care vs Placebo or usual care
Oral health indices (plaque index) · Critically ill patients (adults and children) receiving mechanical ventilation in ICU
Oral hygiene care for critically ill patients to prevent ventilator‐associated pneumonia (2020) · Cochrane
Plaque index: Fu 2019 found a significant reduction in the chlorhexidine group; Ozcaka 2012 and Scannapieco 2009 found no difference; 3 studies; no usable pooled estimate.3 studiesUngraded
Salvadora persica (miswak) mouthrinse vs Pre-treatment (baseline, same group)
Lactobacillus count (pre- vs post-treatment) · Medically healthy individuals (adults and children, 6-60 years) · Pre- vs post-treatment
The antiplaque/anticariogenic efficacy of Salvadora persica (Miswak) mouthrinse in comparison to that of… (2019)
MD 1.54 [0.91, 2.17]2 studies · 30 participantsUngraded
Salvadora persica (miswak) mouthrinse vs Placebo rinse
Post-treatment Lactobacillus count · Medically healthy individuals (adults and children, 6-60 years) · Post-treatment
The antiplaque/anticariogenic efficacy of Salvadora persica (Miswak) mouthrinse in comparison to that of… (2019)
MD -1.12 [-1.45, -0.79]2 studies · 60 participantsUngraded
Salvadora persica (miswak) mouthrinse vs Pre-treatment (baseline, same group)
Streptococcus mutans count (pre- vs post-treatment) · Medically healthy individuals (adults and children, 6-60 years) · Pre- vs post-treatment
The antiplaque/anticariogenic efficacy of Salvadora persica (Miswak) mouthrinse in comparison to that of… (2019)
MD 1.82 [1.03, 2.62]5 studies · 71 participantsUngraded
Salvadora persica (miswak) mouthrinse vs Placebo rinse
Post-treatment Streptococcus mutans count · Medically healthy individuals (adults and children, 6-60 years) · Post-treatment
The antiplaque/anticariogenic efficacy of Salvadora persica (Miswak) mouthrinse in comparison to that of… (2019)
MD -1.42 [-2.08, -0.76]5 studies · 142 participantsUngraded
Antiseptic mouthrinse vs Placebo
Salivary flow rate · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region
Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy (2017) · Cochrane
Salivary flow rate was only reported during radiotherapy (i.e. not at any of the time points of interest); no usable data (Lanzos 2010)1 studyUngraded
Various saliva stimulants (chewable tablet, lozenges, chewing gum, CMC mouthrinse/sprays; 8-arm) vs Saliva substitutes / other products
Salivary flow (stimulated whole saliva) · Adults seeking treatment for the symptom of dry mouth (xerostomia) due to any cause (e.g. medication, Sjogren's…
Interventions for the management of dry mouth: topical therapies (2011) · Cochrane
No product had a long-term effect on stimulated whole saliva production.1 study · 106 participantsUngraded
Zinc chloride + sodium chlorite mouthrinse (TriOral) vs Control mouthrinse (containing neither zinc chloride nor sodium chlorite)
Organoleptic assessment (indirect surrogate salivary organoleptic score) · Adults over 18 years with a clinical or self-assessed diagnosis of halitosis, without significant comorbidity (e.g.… · 4 weeks
Mouthrinses for the treatment of halitosis (2008) · Cochrane
Codipilly 2004: only indirect surrogate salivary organoleptic scores were reported (not organoleptic breath scores); no accurate deductions could be made from the reported values.1 studyUngraded