What do systematic reviews say?

0.2% zinc sulphate toothpaste vs Placebo toothpaste (without zinc)

0.2% zinc sulphate toothpaste led to lower volatile sulphur compounds (VSC) compared with placebo toothpaste (without zinc); GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for managing halitosis 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes

  4 weeks
  MD -11.3 [-20.45, -2.15]
  1 study · 188 participants
  GRADE not reported

Abrasive candy; abrasive candy + 2% propolis; abrasive candy + 0.5% zinc gluconate vs Abrasive candy + 1% propolis + 0.25% zinc

• Interventions for managing halitosis 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Barak 2012 (5-arm RCT) compared abrasive candy, abrasive candy with propolis and abrasive candy with zinc gluconate versus abrasive candy with propolis and zinc; VSC measured by halimeter. We could not use the results…
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

Zinc chloride + sodium chlorite mouthrinse (TriOral) vs Control mouthrinse (containing neither zinc chloride nor sodium chlorite)

• Mouthrinses for the treatment of halitosis 2008 · Cochrane All outcomes

  4 weeks
  Codipilly 2004: precise data could not be extracted (results presented as graph plots). Reported VSC reductions from baseline for zinc chloride + sodium chlorite (TriOral): 55% (P < 0.01) at 2 weeks and 60% (P < 0.01)…
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

Zinc chloride without sodium chlorite mouthrinse (Breath Rx containing cetylpyridinium chloride) vs Control mouthrinse (containing neither zinc chloride nor sodium chlorite)

• Mouthrinses for the treatment of halitosis 2008 · Cochrane All outcomes

  4 weeks
  Codipilly 2004: reported VSC reduction from baseline for zinc chloride minus sodium chlorite (Breath Rx containing cetylpyridinium chloride): 38% (P < 0.05) at 2 weeks, versus a control containing neither zinc chloride…
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

Chlorine dioxide + zinc mouthwash vs Placebo mouthwash

Chlorine dioxide + zinc mouthwash 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 -20.53 [-38.52, -2.54]
  1 study · 41 participants
  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

Zinc chloride + sodium fluoride dentifrice vs Sodium fluoride (control) toothpaste

• Interventions for managing halitosis 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes
  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
  GRADE not reported

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

0.05% chlorhexidine + 0.05% cetylpyridinium chloride + 0.14% zinc lactate mouthrinse vs placebo

• Mouthrinses for the treatment of halitosis 2008 · Cochrane All outcomes

  2 weeks
  Winkel 2003: mean change (SD) in peak VSC (ppb). Mouthrinse: -120 (92), baseline 292 (141) to 172 (104) at day 14, P < 0.005; Placebo: 8 (145), baseline 352 (161) to 360 (254). The mouthrinse caused a significantly…
  1 study · 40 participants
  GRADE not reported

Chlorine dioxide + zinc mouthwash vs placebo

• Mouthrinses for the treatment of halitosis 2008 · Cochrane All outcomes

  4 weeks
  Borden 2002: mean change in halimeter-assessed VSC (ppb). Oxygene: -47.63 at 2 weeks (64.97% reduction), -53.28 at 4 weeks (72.67% reduction); Placebo: -39.86 at 2 weeks, -36.77 at 4 weeks (41.75%). No between-group…
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

Cetylpyridinium chloride + essential oils + chlorine dioxide + zinc mouthrinse (Breath Rx) vs placebo

• Mouthrinses for the treatment of halitosis 2008 · Cochrane All outcomes

  4 weeks
  Borden 2002: mean change in halimeter-assessed VSC (ppb). Breath Rx: -66.84 at 2 weeks (67.65% reduction), -77.87 at 4 weeks (78.82% reduction); Placebo: -39.86 at 2 weeks, -36.77 at 4 weeks (41.75%). No between-group…
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

Cetylpyridinium chloride mouthwash vs Chlorhexidine + zinc mouthwash

Cetylpyridinium chloride mouthwash showed no clear difference in volatile sulphur compounds (VSC) compared with chlorhexidine + zinc mouthwash; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for managing halitosis 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes

  2 weeks
  MD 0.49 [-8.68, 9.66]
  1 study · 44 participants
  GRADE not reported

Cinnamon herbal mouthwash; Nanosil (hydrogen peroxide) mouthwash; Irsha mouthwash vs Water (negative control) and zinc solution (positive control)

• Interventions for managing halitosis 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Talebian 2009 (cross-over study) tested cinnamon herbal, Nanosil and Irsha mouthwashes versus water (negative control) and zinc solution (positive control); VSC by halimeter. We could not include the results in the…
  1 study
  GRADE not reported