What do systematic reviews say?

Chlorhexidine (mouthrinse or gel), as part of oral hygiene care vs placebo or usual care

• Oral hygiene care for critically ill patients to prevent ventilator‐associated pneumonia 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Adverse effects: information from 2 studies; one stated there were none, the other reported mild reversible irritation of the oral mucosa; very low certainty. There was a lack of evidence about adverse effects.
  2 studies
  Very low

Biotene OralBalance vs control

• Oral hygiene care for critically ill patients to prevent ventilator‐associated pneumonia 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Adverse effects (Stefanescu 2013): no significant difference between groups with respect to adverse events in buccal mucosa.
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

Toothbrushing (with or without antiseptics), as part of oral hygiene care vs No toothbrushing (with or without antiseptics)

• Oral hygiene care for critically ill patients to prevent ventilator‐associated pneumonia 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Adverse effects: information from two studies, which stated that there were none; very low certainty. There is a lack of evidence about adverse effects.
  2 studies
  Very low

Sodium bicarbonate rinse (plus toothbrushing) vs Water rinse (plus toothbrushing)

• Oral hygiene care for critically ill patients to prevent ventilator‐associated pneumonia 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Adverse effects (Berry 2011, CHX versus sodium bicarbonate versus water): no adverse events were reported associated with the interventions.
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

Povidone iodine rinse vs Saline rinse or placebo

• Oral hygiene care for critically ill patients to prevent ventilator‐associated pneumonia 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Adverse effects (Seguin 2014): no evidence of a difference in acute respiratory distress syndrome (RR 11.00, 95% CI 0.62 to 195.61), agitation and/or hypertension (RR 0.48, 95% CI 0.12 to 1.86), epistaxis (RR 0.14, 95%…
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

Antibiotic prophylaxis before dental procedure vs placebo or no prophylaxis

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Antibiotic prophylaxis for preventing bacterial endocarditis following dental procedures 2022 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Adverse effects of antibiotics | No data reported | 248 (1 study) | - | -
  0 studies
  No studies found

Professional oral care vs Usual oral care

• Oral care measures for preventing nursing home‐acquired pneumonia 2022 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Measured in only 1 study (834 participants), which reported no serious events and 64 non-serious events, the most common of which were oral cavity disturbances (not defined) and dental staining.
  1 study · 834 participants
  GRADE not reported

Educational intervention with information and practical components (theoretical oral health education plus practical skills training) for nursing staff and/or residents vs (Optimised) usual care

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Oral health educational interventions for nursing home staff and residents 2016 · Cochrane All outcomes
  None of the included studies assessed adverse effects of the intervention.
  0 studies
  No studies found