What do systematic reviews say?

Antiseptic mouthwash (e.g. chlorhexidine) vs Another topical agent or placebo

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Topical treatments for HIV‐related oral ulcers 2012 · Cochrane All outcomes
  No studies were included in this review. A total of 233 abstracts were retrieved; 25 were selected as potentially eligible but all were excluded (10 reported systemic rather than topical treatment; 3 non‐RCTs; 6…
  0 studies
  No studies found

Chlorhexidine mouthwash vs Salt and soda mouthwash

Chlorhexidine mouthwash showed no clear difference in mucositis eradicated compared with salt and soda mouthwash; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for treating oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment 2010 · Cochrane All outcomes
  RR 1.10 [0.90, 1.35]
  1 study · 138 participants
  GRADE not reported

Chlorhexidine mouthwash vs Salt and soda mouthwash

Chlorhexidine mouthwash showed no clear difference in time to heal mucositis (days) compared with salt and soda mouthwash; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for treating oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment 2010 · Cochrane All outcomes
  MD -0.40 [-1.49, 0.69]
  1 study · 100 participants
  GRADE not reported

Chlorhexidine mouthwash vs Salt and soda mouthwash

Chlorhexidine mouthwash showed no clear difference in average pain scores (0-100 VAS) compared with salt and soda mouthwash; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for treating oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment 2010 · Cochrane All outcomes
  MD -3.50 [-13.35, 6.35]
  1 study · 63 participants
  GRADE not reported

Antiseptic mouthwash (e.g. chlorhexidine) vs Another topical agent or placebo

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Topical treatments for HIV‐related oral ulcers 2012 · Cochrane All outcomes
  No studies were included in this review. A total of 233 abstracts were retrieved; 25 were selected as potentially eligible but all were excluded (10 reported systemic rather than topical treatment; 3 non‐RCTs; 6…
  0 studies
  No studies found

Antiseptic mouthwash (e.g. chlorhexidine) vs Another topical agent or placebo

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Topical treatments for HIV‐related oral ulcers 2012 · Cochrane All outcomes
  No studies were included in this review. A total of 233 abstracts were retrieved; 25 were selected as potentially eligible but all were excluded (10 reported systemic rather than topical treatment; 3 non‐RCTs; 6…
  0 studies
  No studies found

Antiseptic mouthwash (e.g. chlorhexidine) vs Another topical agent or placebo

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Topical treatments for HIV‐related oral ulcers 2012 · Cochrane All outcomes
  No studies were included in this review. A total of 233 abstracts were retrieved; 25 were selected as potentially eligible but all were excluded (10 reported systemic rather than topical treatment; 3 non‐RCTs; 6…
  0 studies
  No studies found

Antiseptic mouthwash (e.g. chlorhexidine) vs Another topical agent or placebo

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Topical treatments for HIV‐related oral ulcers 2012 · Cochrane All outcomes
  No studies were included in this review. A total of 233 abstracts were retrieved; 25 were selected as potentially eligible but all were excluded (10 reported systemic rather than topical treatment; 3 non‐RCTs; 6…
  0 studies
  No studies found

Chlorhexidine mouthwash vs placebo

Chlorhexidine mouthwash reduced Mutans streptococci versus placebo, but certainty is very low.

• The efficacy of mouthwashes on oral microorganisms and gingivitis in patients undergoing orthodontic treatment:… 2023 All outcomes

  ≤ 3 months
  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 studies
  Very low

Chlorhexidine mouthwash vs Blank control

Chlorhexidine mouthwash reduced Mutans streptococci versus blank control, but certainty is very low.

• The efficacy of mouthwashes on oral microorganisms and gingivitis in patients undergoing orthodontic treatment:… 2023 All outcomes

  ≤ 3 months
  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 studies
  Very low

Chlorhexidine mouthwash vs placebo

Chlorhexidine mouthwash reduced Plaque Index versus placebo, but certainty is very low.

• The efficacy of mouthwashes on oral microorganisms and gingivitis in patients undergoing orthodontic treatment:… 2023 All outcomes

  ≤ 3 months
  Plaque Index was significantly reduced compared to placebos according to two studies [20; 32].
  2 studies
  Very low

Chlorhexidine + zinc acetate mouthwash vs Placebo mouthwash

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Interventions for managing halitosis 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes

  mean 3 months
  Adverse events: listed in the Summary of findings table but no data reported. No data were reported for adverse events.
  0 studies
  No studies found

Chlorhexidine + zinc acetate mouthwash vs Placebo mouthwash

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Interventions for managing halitosis 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes

  mean 3 months
  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 found

Chlorhexidine + zinc acetate mouthwash vs Placebo mouthwash

It is very uncertain whether chlorhexidine + zinc acetate mouthwash changes dentist-reported organoleptic test (OLT) score (scale 0 to 5) compared with placebo mouthwash (very low certainty).

• Interventions for managing halitosis 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes

  mean 3 months
  MD -0.2 [-0.58, 0.18]
  1 study · 44 participants
  Very low

Mouthwash (amine/stannous fluoride; or chlorhexidine + cetylpyridinium + zinc) vs Chlorhexidine mouthwash or tap water

• Interventions for managing halitosis 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes

  7 days
  Wigger-Alberti 2010 mouthwash data (ASF; CHX + CPC + Zn; CHX; tap water) were calculated from a graph (Additional Table 1) but not included, as the report did not give details of sample size per group.
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

0.05% chlorhexidine + 0.05% cetylpyridinium chloride + 0.14% zinc lactate mouthrinse vs Placebo mouthwash

Halita mouthwash (chlorhexidine 0.05% + cetylpyridinium chloride… led to lower volatile sulphur compounds (VSC), halimeter compared with placebo mouthwash; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for managing halitosis 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes

  2 weeks
  MD -188.0 [-308.29, -67.71]
  1 study · 40 participants
  GRADE not reported

0.05% chlorhexidine + 0.05% cetylpyridinium chloride + 0.14% zinc lactate mouthrinse vs Placebo mouthwash

• Interventions for managing halitosis 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes

  mean 2 weeks
  Adverse events (Table 6). Risk with placebo mouthwash: None reported. Risk with halita mouthwash: tongue staining was seen in patients who gargled, rather than rinsed. 40 participants (1 RCT). Certainty: VERY LOW.
  1 study · 40 participants
  Very low

0.05% chlorhexidine + 0.05% cetylpyridinium chloride + 0.14% zinc lactate mouthrinse vs Placebo mouthwash

It is very uncertain whether halita mouthwash (chlorhexidine 0.05% + cetylpyridinium chloride… changes dentist-reported organoleptic test (OLT) score (scale 0 to 5) compared with placebo mouthwash (very low certainty).

• Interventions for managing halitosis 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes

  mean 2 weeks
  MD -1.0 [-1.65, -0.35]
  1 study · 40 participants
  Very low

Triclosan mouthwash (with and without alcohol); zinc lactate + chlorhexidine + cetylpyridinium mouthwash vs Placebo mouthwash

• Interventions for managing halitosis 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Lopez Jornet 2003 (4-arm RCT) compared triclosan mouthwash with and without alcohol and a zinc lactate + chlorhexidine + cetylpyridinium mouthwash versus placebo mouthwash (VSC by halimeter and OLT). We could not…
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

Chlorhexidine mouthwash vs Placebo mouthwash

Chlorhexidine mouthwash may reduce pocket probing depth versus placebo in the short term (low certainty).

• The efficacy of mouthwashes on oral microorganisms and gingivitis in patients undergoing orthodontic treatment:… 2023 All outcomes

  <=3 months (short-term) · Orthodontic patients undergoing orthodontic treatment (randomized controlled trials; multiple countries)
  PD was significantly reduced except mid-lingual site compared to placebo [32]. The changes of PD were significantly higher compared to placebo [56].
  2 studies
  Low