What do systematic reviews say?

Fluoride gel (topically applied; operator- or self-applied; any fluoride agent/concentration; frequency at least once a year) vs Fluoride mouthrinse

• One topical fluoride (toothpastes, or mouthrinses, or gels, or varnishes) versus another for preventing dental caries… 2004 · Cochrane All outcomes

  1 to 3 years (final follow-up)
  PF -0.14 [-0.40, 0.12]
  1 study · 257 participants
  GRADE not reported

Fluoride gel combined with fluoride mouthrinse vs Fluoride mouthrinse

• Combinations of topical fluoride (toothpastes, mouthrinses, gels, varnishes) versus single topical fluoride for… 2004 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Nearest to 3 years
  PF 0.02 [-0.20, 0.24]
  1 study · 252 participants
  GRADE not reported

Fluoride gel combined with fluoride mouthrinse vs Fluoride gel

• Combinations of topical fluoride (toothpastes, mouthrinses, gels, varnishes) versus single topical fluoride for… 2004 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Nearest to 3 years
  PF 0.23 [0.04, 0.43]
  2 studies · 497 participants
  GRADE not reported

Fluoride mouthrinse, gel or varnish combined with fluoride toothpaste (any combined regimen) vs Fluoride toothpaste alone

• Combinations of topical fluoride (toothpastes, mouthrinses, gels, varnishes) versus single topical fluoride for… 2004 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Nearest to 3 years
  PF 0.10 [0.02, 0.17]
  9 studies · 4026 participants
  GRADE not reported

Fluoride gel (topically applied; operator- or self-applied; any fluoride agent/concentration; frequency at least once a year) vs Fluoride in rinse

The illustrative network meta-regression estimated an SMD for caries increment for fluoride in gel versus fluoride in rinse across randomization year; the review did not state whether the difference was significant and certainty was not graded.

• Graphs of study contributions and covariate distributions for network meta-regression. 2018 All outcomes

  At least 1 year or school year · Network meta-regression covariate: randomization year
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  GRADE not reported

Topical fluoride therapy (toothpaste, mouthrinse, gel or varnish; any fluoride agent/concentration; frequency at least once a year) vs placebo or no treatment

• Topical fluoride (toothpastes, mouthrinses, gels or varnishes) for preventing dental caries in children and adolescents 2003 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Nearest to 3 years
  PF 0.26 [0.21, 0.30]
  79 studies
  GRADE not reported
• Topical fluoride (toothpastes, mouthrinses, gels or varnishes) for preventing dental caries in children and adolescents 2003 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Nearest to 3 years · Fluoride varnish trials
  PF 0.53 [0.23, 0.82]
  3 studies
  GRADE not reported
• Topical fluoride (toothpastes, mouthrinses, gels or varnishes) for preventing dental caries in children and adolescents 2003 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Nearest to 3 years · Fluoride gel trials
  PF 0.32 [0.19, 0.46]
  10 studies
  GRADE not reported

Fluoride gel combined with fluoride toothpaste vs Fluoride gel

• Combinations of topical fluoride (toothpastes, mouthrinses, gels, varnishes) versus single topical fluoride for… 2004 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Nearest to 3 years
  PF 0.10 [-0.01, 0.21]
  3 studies · 759 participants
  GRADE not reported

Fluoride gel combined with fluoride toothpaste vs Fluoride toothpaste alone

• Combinations of topical fluoride (toothpastes, mouthrinses, gels, varnishes) versus single topical fluoride for… 2004 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Nearest to 3 years
  PF 0.14 [-0.09, 0.38]
  3 studies · 1217 participants
  GRADE not reported