What do systematic reviews say?

Topical triamcinolone acetonide vs pimecrolimus 1%

Topical triamcinolone acetonide showed no clear difference in pain (mean VAS score) compared with topical pimecrolimus; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for treating oral lichen planus: corticosteroid therapies 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes

  end of treatment
  MD -0.05 [-2.97, 2.87]
  2 studies · 70 participants
  GRADE not reported

Dexamethasone ointment vs Amlexanox paste

Dexamethasone ointment showed no clear difference in pain (mean score) compared with amlexanox paste; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for treating oral lichen planus: corticosteroid therapies 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes
  MD 0.05 [-0.78, 0.88]
  1 study · 36 participants
  GRADE not reported

Topical triamcinolone acetonide vs Photodynamic therapy

It is very uncertain whether topical triamcinolone acetonide changes pain (mean score) compared with photodynamic therapy (very low certainty).

• Interventions for treating oral lichen planus: corticosteroid therapies 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes
  MD 4.9 [2.98, 6.82]
  1 study · 20 participants
  Very low

Dexamethasone + nystatin + curcumin (adjunctive) vs Dexamethasone + nystatin + placebo

• Interventions for treating oral lichen planus: corticosteroid therapies 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Amirchaghmaghi 2016: no difference in clinical resolution with vs without curcumin (very low-certainty)
  1 study
  Very low

Clobetasol propionate ointment vs Clobetasol propionate 0.025% ointment

Clobetasol propionate 0.05% ointment showed no clear difference in pain (mean score) compared with clobetasol propionate 0.025% ointment (low certainty).

• Interventions for treating oral lichen planus: corticosteroid therapies 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes
  MD -0.26 [-1.42, 0.90]
  1 study · 30 participants
  Low

Clobetasol propionate ointment vs Low-level laser therapy (LLLT)

It is very uncertain whether clobetasol propionate ointment changes clinical resolution compared with low-level laser therapy (LLLT) (very low certainty).

• Interventions for treating oral lichen planus: corticosteroid therapies 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes
  RR 0.46 [0.22, 0.98]
  1 study · 42 participants
  Very low

Triamcinolone plus systemic glucosamine sulphate (adjunctive) vs triamcinolone

• Interventions for treating oral lichen planus: corticosteroid therapies 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Hesen 2017: no difference in Thongprasom clinical score with vs without glucosamine sulphate
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

Clobetasol propionate ointment vs Triamcinolone acetonide ointment

Clobetasol propionate ointment may leads to higher clinical resolution compared with triamcinolone acetonide ointment (low certainty).

• Interventions for treating oral lichen planus: corticosteroid therapies 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes
  RR 1.56 [1.09, 2.21]
  2 studies · 57 participants
  Low

0.1% chlorine dioxide mouthwash vs Placebo mouthwash

0.1% chlorine dioxide mouthwash may leads to lower dentist-reported organoleptic test (OLT) score (scale 0 to 5) compared with placebo mouthwash (low certainty).

• Interventions for managing halitosis 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes

  mean 3 weeks
  MD -0.61 [-0.73, -0.49]
  1 study · 47 participants
  Low

Mechanical tongue cleaning (tongue scraper) vs No tongue cleaning

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Interventions for managing halitosis 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes

  mean 2 weeks
  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

Lactobacillus salivarius WB21 tablets vs placebo (3 tablets/4 times a day

• Interventions for managing halitosis 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Suzuki 2014 (cross-over RCT) compared Lactobacillus salivarius WB21 tablets versus placebo tablets (OLT and VSC by gas chromatography). The trial did not give usable data and we could not extract data from the graph.
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

0.6% eucalyptus chewing gum vs 0.4% eucalyptus chewing gum

It is very uncertain whether 0.6% eucalyptus chewing gum changes dentist-reported organoleptic test (OLT) score (scale 0 to 5) compared with 0.4% eucalyptus chewing gum (very low certainty).

• Interventions for managing halitosis 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes

  mean 4 weeks
  MD -0.1 [-0.37, 0.17]
  1 study · 64 participants
  Very low

Mechanical tongue cleaning (tongue scraper) vs No tongue cleaning

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Interventions for managing halitosis 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes

  mean 2 weeks
  Patient-reported OLT score assessed with patient's perception: 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

Green tea mouthwash vs Placebo mouthwash

Green tea mouthwash showed no clear difference in volatile sulphur compounds (VSC), halimeter compared with placebo mouthwash; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for managing halitosis 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes

  28 days
  MD -57.39 [-184.63, 69.85]
  1 study · 60 participants
  GRADE not reported

Triclosan/copolymer-containing fluoride toothpaste vs Sodium fluoride (control) toothpaste

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Interventions for managing halitosis 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes

  mean 1 week
  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

Hinokitiol gel vs Placebo gel

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Interventions for managing halitosis 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes

  mean 4 weeks
  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

Toothbrushing + Turkish gall oral rinse vs Toothbrushing alone

Toothbrushing + Turkish gall oral rinse showed no clear difference in volatile sulphur compounds (VSC), halimeter compared with toothbrushing; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for managing halitosis 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes

  2 weeks
  MD -211.47 [-503.58, 80.64]
  1 study · 66 participants
  GRADE not reported

0.6% eucalyptus chewing gum vs Placebo chewing gum

0.6% eucalyptus chewing gum showed no clear difference in volatile sulphur compounds (VSC) compared with placebo chewing gum; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for managing halitosis 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes

  4 weeks
  MD 0.0 [-0.21, 0.21]
  1 study · 65 participants
  GRADE not reported

Miswak (Salvadora persica) stick vs Chlorhexidine mouthwash

Miswak (Salvadora persica) stick led to lower volatile sulphur compounds (VSC) compared with chlorhexidine mouthwash; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for managing halitosis 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes

  1 week
  MD -0.77 [-1.19, -0.35]
  1 study · 24 participants
  GRADE not reported

Triclosan/copolymer-containing fluoride toothpaste vs Sodium fluoride (control) toothpaste

It is very uncertain whether 0.3% triclosan + PVM/MA + sodium fluoride toothpaste changes dentist-reported breath odour (OLT) score (scale 1 to 9 hedonic) compared with sodium fluoride (control) toothpaste (very low certainty).

• Interventions for managing halitosis 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes

  mean 1 week
  MD -3.48 [-3.77, -3.19]
  1 study · 81 participants
  Very low