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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.
27 questions in 9 reviews · cluster CL0156
current versionsNo studies 4 · 14.8%Ungraded 12 · 44.4%Very low 8 · 29.6%Low 3 · 11.1%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
| Question | Effect | Evidence | Status / GRADE |
|---|---|---|---|
Fluoride mouthrinse (0.05-0.32% sodium fluoride or amine fluoride) added to daily fluoride toothpaste vs Control: fluoride toothpaste alone, placebo mouthrinse + toothpaste, or non-fluoride (chlorhexidine) mouthrinse + toothpaste Incidence of initial caries around brackets, aesthetic-zone teeth only · Children, adolescents and adults undergoing fixed (multi-bracket) orthodontic treatment · At debonding (Gorelick index), Aesthetic zone (central and lateral incisors, canines) Fluoride mouthrinses for prevention of initial caries in orthodontic patients - a systematic review and… (2025) | In two studies, a significant reduction of the incidence of initial caries around orthodontic brackets was reported in the FMR group when only teeth in the 'aesthetic zone' (central and lateral incisors, canines) were… | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Fluoride mouthrinse (0.05-0.32% sodium fluoride or amine fluoride) added to daily fluoride toothpaste vs Control: fluoride toothpaste alone, placebo mouthrinse + toothpaste, or non-fluoride (chlorhexidine) mouthrinse + toothpaste Incidence of proximal (interdental) caries lesions from bitewing radiographs · Children, adolescents and adults undergoing fixed (multi-bracket) orthodontic treatment · At debonding (~23-24 months) Fluoride mouthrinses for prevention of initial caries in orthodontic patients - a systematic review and… (2025) | In one study assessments of proximal caries incidence were made as well [18]. However, just the data on the incidence of white spot lesions was included in our meta-analysis as different endpoints for the assessments… | 1 study | Ungraded |
Nano-hydroxyapatite (nHA) dentifrice/paste (fluoride-free or fluoridated) vs nHA-free / fluoride-free (negative) control Mineral loss (transversal microradiography) · Enamel/dentin specimens with initial caries lesions (or sound surfaces) in intraoral (in situ) appliances worn by… · Median 21 days (range 14-28 days), Net-remineralizing conditions Efficacy of nano-hydroxyapatite on caries prevention-a systematic review and meta-analysis. (2022) | MD 350 [179, 521] | 1 study | Very low |
Fluoride-free nano-/micro-hydroxyapatite (nHA) dentifrice vs Fluoride-containing (fluoridated) dentifrice control Caries lesion initiation/progression (ICDAS score, laser fluorescence/DIAGNOdent, photographic pixels, enamel acid resistance) · Patients (children and adults, age 3-40 years) with initial enamel caries lesions (non-orthodontic and orthodontic) · Median follow-up 6 months (range 6-12 months) Efficacy of nano-hydroxyapatite on caries prevention-a systematic review and meta-analysis. (2022) | No meta-analysis was performed for the in vivo studies owing to high heterogeneity (population, control group, outcomes, follow-up periods, risk of bias) and differing statistical designs (e.g., non-inferiority);… | 5 studies · 420 participants | Ungraded |
Fluoride-free nano-hydroxyapatite (nHA) dentifrice/paste vs Fluoridated control (sodium fluoride, NaF) Mineral loss (transversal microradiography) · Enamel/dentin specimens with initial caries lesions (or sound surfaces) in intraoral (in situ) appliances worn by… · Median 21 days (range 14-28 days), Net-demineralizing conditions Efficacy of nano-hydroxyapatite on caries prevention-a systematic review and meta-analysis. (2022) | MD 1625 [553, 2697] | 1 study | Very low |
Nano-hydroxyapatite (nHA) dentifrice/paste (fluoride-free or fluoridated) vs nHA-free / fluoride-free (negative) control Mineral loss (transversal microradiography) · Enamel/dentin specimens with initial caries lesions (or sound surfaces) in intraoral (in situ) appliances worn by… · Median 21 days (range 14-28 days), Net-demineralizing conditions Efficacy of nano-hydroxyapatite on caries prevention-a systematic review and meta-analysis. (2022) | MD -61 [-1301, 1179] | 1 study | Very low |
Fluoride-free nano-hydroxyapatite (nHA) dentifrice/paste vs Fluoridated control (sodium fluoride, NaF) Mineral loss (transversal microradiography) · Enamel/dentin specimens with initial caries lesions (or sound surfaces) in intraoral (in situ) appliances worn by… · Median 21 days (range 14-28 days), Net-remineralizing conditions Efficacy of nano-hydroxyapatite on caries prevention-a systematic review and meta-analysis. (2022) | MD -15 [-133, 103] | 2 studies | Very low |
0.3% triclosan + PVM/MA + sodium fluoride toothpaste vs Sodium fluoride (control) toothpaste Patient-reported OLT score · Adolescents and adults aged over 16 years with clinical or self-assessed halitosis of oral origin; excluding induced… · mean 1 week Interventions for managing halitosis (2019) · Cochrane | Patient-reported OLT score: listed in the Summary of findings table but no data reported. No data were reported for patient-reported OLT score. | 0 studies | No studies |
0.3% triclosan + PVM/MA + sodium fluoride toothpaste vs Sodium fluoride (control) toothpaste Dentist-reported breath odour (OLT) score (scale 1 to 9 hedonic) · Adolescents and adults aged over 16 years with clinical or self-assessed halitosis of oral origin; excluding induced… · mean 1 week Interventions for managing halitosis (2019) · Cochrane | MD -3.48 [-3.77, -3.19] | 1 study · 81 participants | Very low |
Dual zinc + arginine dentifrice vs Control (regular fluoride) dentifrice Dentist-reported OLT hedonic rating (scale 1 to 9) · Adolescents and adults aged over 16 years with clinical or self-assessed halitosis of oral origin; excluding induced… · mean 3 weeks Interventions for managing halitosis (2019) · Cochrane | MD -2.0 [-2.19, -1.81] | 1 study · 80 participants | Very low |
Triclosan dentifrices (Crest Complete A; Signal Global A; Colgate Total A; experimental 0.3% triclosan formulation) vs Negative control dentifrice Volatile sulphur compounds (VSC), halimeter · Adolescents and adults aged over 16 years with clinical or self-assessed halitosis of oral origin; excluding induced… Interventions for managing halitosis (2019) · Cochrane | Nogueira-Filho 2002 (5-arm trial) compared three commercial 0.3% triclosan dentifrices and an experimental formulation versus a negative control dentifrice; VSC by halimeter. We could not use the results in the… | 1 study | Ungraded |
Patient-used 5000 ppm F toothpaste, daily vs 1450 ppm F (conventional) toothpaste, daily Number of participants with more severe DLs (severity of DLs) · Orthodontic patients of any age with fixed braces (new DLs assessed at debond) · At debond (end of orthodontic treatment) Fluorides for preventing early tooth decay (demineralised lesions) during fixed brace treatment (2019) · Cochrane | SoF 3. Number of participants with more severe DLs: none of the trials reported this outcome. | 0 studies | No studies |
1400/250 ppm F (amine F/SnF2) toothpaste + mouthrinse, daily vs 1400/250 ppm F (NaF) toothpaste + mouthrinse, daily Number of participants with more severe DLs (severity of DLs) · Orthodontic patients of any age with fixed braces (new DLs assessed at debond) · At debond (end of orthodontic treatment) Fluorides for preventing early tooth decay (demineralised lesions) during fixed brace treatment (2019) · Cochrane | Additional SoF Table 2. Number of participants with more severe DLs: none of the trials reported this outcome. | 0 studies | No studies |
Sodium bicarbonate toothpaste vs Control toothpaste (without sodium bicarbonate) Volatile sulphur compounds (VSC) · Adolescents and adults aged over 16 years with clinical or self-assessed halitosis of oral origin; excluding induced… · 6 weeks Interventions for managing halitosis (2019) · Cochrane | MD 105.8 [-16.2, 227.8] | 1 study · 148 participants | Ungraded |
Toothpaste with a plaque-disclosing agent vs Conventional toothpaste Plaque (short term) · Children aged 7 to 13 years with Down syndrome (mild to moderate ID); setting residential · Short term (<6 weeks) Oral hygiene interventions for people with intellectual disabilities (2019) · Cochrane | Simplified Green & Vermillion Oral Hygiene Index (plaque), mean 10 days; percent mean difference 65 (intervention) vs 15 (control), P<0.0001 favouring the disclosing-agent toothpaste; 40 participants (SoF states 80,… | 1 study · 40 participants | Very low |
Zinc chloride + sodium fluoride dentifrice vs Control dentifrice (sodium fluoride) Volatile sulphur compounds (VSC), gas chromatography · Adolescents and adults aged over 16 years with clinical or self-assessed halitosis of oral origin; excluding induced… Interventions for managing halitosis (2019) · Cochrane | Payne 2011 (cross-over RCT) compared ZnCl + NaF dentifrice versus control NaF dentifrice; VSC by gas chromatography. The trial reported the adjusted mean VSC scores in a graph and hence we could not use the data in the… | 1 study | Ungraded |
0.2% zinc sulphate toothpaste vs Placebo toothpaste (without zinc) Volatile sulphur compounds (VSC) · Adolescents and adults aged over 16 years with clinical or self-assessed halitosis of oral origin; excluding induced… · 4 weeks Interventions for managing halitosis (2019) · Cochrane | MD -11.3 [-20.45, -2.15] | 1 study · 188 participants | Ungraded |
0.3% triclosan + PVM/MA + sodium fluoride toothpaste vs Placebo toothpaste Volatile sulphur compounds (VSC), gas chromatography · Adolescents and adults aged over 16 years with clinical or self-assessed halitosis of oral origin; excluding induced… Interventions for managing halitosis (2019) · Cochrane | Niles 1999 (cross-over trial) compared 0.3% triclosan + 2.0% PVM/MA + 0.243% NaF toothpaste versus placebo toothpaste; VSC by gas chromatograph. We could not use the results in the meta-analysis as there was no… | 1 study | Ungraded |
0.2% zinc sulphate toothpaste vs Placebo toothpaste (without zinc) Dentist-reported organoleptic test (OLT) score (scale 0 to 5) · Adolescents and adults aged over 16 years with clinical or self-assessed halitosis of oral origin; excluding induced… · mean 4 weeks Interventions for managing halitosis (2019) · Cochrane | MD -1.31 [-1.39, -1.23] | 1 study · 187 participants | Very low |
Patient-used 5000 ppm F toothpaste, daily throughout treatment vs 1450 ppm F (conventional) toothpaste, daily Number of participants with new demineralised lesions (DLs) · Orthodontic patients of any age with fixed braces (new DLs assessed at debond) · At debond; follow-up 1.8 years Fluorides for preventing early tooth decay (demineralised lesions) during fixed brace treatment (2019) · Cochrane | RR 0.68 [0.46, 1.00] | 1 study · 380 participants | Low |
Chlorhexidine toothpaste vs Placebo or no intervention (including routine care) Outcome NR · Children and adolescents below 18 years at study start (included studies: children from birth to 15 years), with… Chlorhexidine treatment for the prevention of dental caries in children and adolescents (2015) · Cochrane | There were no trials on other products containing chlorhexidine such as sprays, toothpastes, chewing gums or mouthrinses. | 0 studies | No studies |
Triclosan/copolymer-containing fluoride toothpaste vs Fluoride toothpaste without triclosan Calculus at 7 months (Volpe-Manhold Calculus Index, mean height of calculus in mm) · Children and adults (aged 16 years or less = children, over 16 = adults) without periodontitis at baseline; in… · 7 months Triclosan/copolymer containing toothpastes for oral health (2013) · Cochrane | MD -0.04 [-0.21, 0.13] | 1 study · 78 participants | Ungraded |
Triclosan/copolymer-containing fluoride toothpaste vs Fluoride toothpaste without triclosan Calculus at 6 months (Volpe-Manhold Calculus Index in mm, mean total calculus per participant) · Children and adults (aged 16 years or less = children, over 16 = adults) without periodontitis at baseline; in… · 6 months Triclosan/copolymer containing toothpastes for oral health (2013) · Cochrane | MD -2.12 [-3.39, -0.84] | 2 studies · 415 participants | Low |
Triclosan/copolymer-containing fluoride toothpaste vs Fluoride toothpaste without triclosan Periodontitis at 36 months (attachment loss > 0 mm) · Children and adults (aged 16 years or less = children, over 16 = adults) without periodontitis at baseline; in… · 36 months Triclosan/copolymer containing toothpastes for oral health (2013) · Cochrane | RR 0.92 [0.67, 1.27] | 1 study · 480 participants | Low |
Betaine (BET) toothpaste (4%) vs SLS toothpaste (1%) and combined BET+SLS toothpaste Xerostomia (relief of oral dryness) · 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 | Rantanen 2003 (crossover): relief of oral dryness BET 44% vs BET+SLS 22% (P = 0.002) vs SLS 18% (P = 0.022) vs reference toothpaste 7% (P < 0.001); betaine-only significantly better than the other toothpastes. No… | 1 study | Ungraded |
Triclosan dentifrice vs Sodium fluoride dentifrice Change in probing pocket depth (>=4 mm) · Adults with dental implants and peri-implant mucositis at baseline · 6 months Interventions for replacing missing teeth: maintaining and recovering soft tissue health around dental… (2010) · Cochrane | MD 0.30 [-0.06, 0.66] | 1 study · 59 participants | Ungraded |
Triclosan dentifrice vs Sodium fluoride dentifrice Plaque · Adults with dental implants and peri-implant mucositis at baseline · 6 months Interventions for replacing missing teeth: maintaining and recovering soft tissue health around dental… (2010) · Cochrane | MD -7.50 [-17.52, 2.52] | 1 study · 59 participants | Ungraded |