Prevalence (detection frequency) of S. mutans in plaque · Systemically healthy individuals (children and adults, aged 40 months to 50 years) assessed for dental caries
S. mutans prevalence in plaque is significantly higher in caries-active than caries-free individuals (pooled OR 2.58, 95% CI 1.65 to 4.02; I2=16%); ungraded.
1 finding from 1 review
Reduced dental plaque index · Adults with dental caries
Postbiotic lozenges reduce plaque index in one adult RCT (ungraded).
1 finding from 1 review
Plaque · Adults, 16 years and older (dentate)
Interdental brushing plus toothbrushing may leads to lower plaque compared with toothbrushing alone (low certainty).
Plaque · Adults, 16 years and older (dentate)
It is very uncertain whether interdental brushing plus toothbrushing changes plaque compared with flossing plus toothbrushing (very low certainty).
SMD -0.47 [-0.84, -0.11]
5 studies · 290 participants
Very low
SMD 0.10 [-0.13, 0.33]
7 studies · 326 participants
Low
SMD -2.14 [-5.25, 0.97]
2 studies · 107 participants
Very low
Plaque · Adults, 16 years and older (dentate)
It is very uncertain whether rubber/elastomeric cleaning stick plus toothbrushing changes plaque compared with interdental brushing plus toothbrushing (very low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Salivary Streptococcus mutans count and plaque index · Adults with dental caries
No meta-analysis was conducted; postbiotic lozenges were reported to reduce salivary Streptococcus mutans counts and plaque index versus placebo.
1 finding from 1 review
no estimate extracted
1 study
GRADE not reported
Plaque · Adults, 16 years and older (dentate)
It is very uncertain whether rubber/elastomeric cleaning stick plus toothbrushing changes plaque compared with flossing plus toothbrushing (very low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Plaque · Adults, 16 years and older (dentate)
It is very uncertain whether wooden cleaning stick plus toothbrushing changes plaque compared with toothbrushing alone (very low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Plaque · Adults, 16 years and older (dentate)
It is very uncertain whether wooden cleaning stick plus toothbrushing changes plaque compared with flossing plus toothbrushing (very low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Plaque · Adults, 16 years and older (dentate)
Oral irrigation plus toothbrushing showed no clear difference in plaque compared with toothbrushing alone (low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Plaque · Adults, 16 years and older (dentate)
It is very uncertain whether flossing plus toothbrushing changes plaque compared with toothbrushing alone (very low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Plaque · Adults, 16 years and older (dentate)
It is very uncertain whether rubber/elastomeric cleaning stick plus toothbrushing changes plaque compared with toothbrushing alone (very low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Plaque · Adults, 16 years and older (dentate)
It is very uncertain whether oral irrigation plus toothbrushing changes plaque compared with flossing plus toothbrushing (very low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Plaque · Children aged 4 to 12 years attending primary school
Primary school-based behavioural intervention (both oral hygiene and… showed no clear difference in plaque indices (permanent and deciduous teeth) compared with no intervention or delayed intervention (non-intervention control;… (low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
SoF (Plaque indices, follow-up 3 to 15 months): 'All 3 RCTs showed a reduction in plaque in the intervention group compared to control group'; 827 participants (3 RCTs); GRADE low; comment 'Data not suitable for…
3 studies · 827 participants
Low
Plaque · Dentate adults aged 16 years or older (excluding orthodontic patients and those with severe periodontal disease)
It is very uncertain whether flossing plus toothbrushing (self-performed; manual or automated… changes plaque (Turesky-modified Quigley-Hein/other plaque indices; SMD) compared with toothbrushing alone (with or without a negative-control/placebo rinse) (very low certainty).
3 findings from 1 review
SMD -0.23 [-0.52, 0.06]
5 studies · 416 participants
Very low
SMD -0.06 [-0.23, 0.12]
3 studies · 487 participants
GRADE not reported
SMD -0.20 [-0.36, -0.04]
5 studies · 594 participants
GRADE not reported
Plaque and gingivitis scores · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or less
1 finding from 1 review