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
Caries increment, surface index D(M)FS · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or less
1 finding from 1 review
Side effects · Dentate adults aged 16 years or older (excluding orthodontic patients and those with severe periodontal disease)
1 finding from 1 review
Not estimable (5 studies). Adverse effects were assessed in five studies, but they used different outcome measures, so meta-analysis was not appropriate. The main harm identified was soft-tissue trauma to the gingival…
5 studies
GRADE not reported
Gingivitis · Dentate adults aged 16 years or older (excluding orthodontic patients and those with severe periodontal disease)
Flossing plus toothbrushing (self-performed; manual or automated… led to lower gingivitis (Gingival Index, 0-3 scale; SMD) compared with toothbrushing alone (with or without a negative-control/placebo rinse); GRADE not reported.
3 findings from 1 review
SMD -0.41 [-0.68, -0.14]
6 studies · 656 participants
GRADE not reported
SMD -0.36 [-0.66, -0.05]
7 studies · 489 participants
Very low
SMD -0.72 [-1.09, -0.35]
4 studies · 564 participants
GRADE not reported
Caries increment in deciduous (primary) teeth/surfaces (dmf index) · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or less
1 finding from 1 review
Economic and resource cost of flossing · Dentate adults aged 16 years or older (excluding orthodontic patients and those with severe periodontal disease)
The review found no eligible studies for this question.
1 finding from 1 review
Caries increment in permanent teeth · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or less
3 findings from 1 review
Interproximal caries · Dentate adults aged 16 years or older (excluding orthodontic patients and those with severe periodontal disease)
The review found no eligible studies for this question.
1 finding from 1 review
Periodontitis (clinical attachment loss) · Dentate adults aged 16 years or older (excluding orthodontic patients and those with severe periodontal disease)
The review found no eligible studies for this question.
1 finding from 1 review
Bad breath (halitosis) · Dentate adults aged 16 years or older (excluding orthodontic patients and those with severe periodontal disease)
The review found no eligible studies for this question.
1 finding from 1 review
Fluorosis (adverse effect; % of children with fluorotic teeth, questionable to severe) · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or less
1 finding from 1 review
% of children with fluorotic teeth (questionable to severe), follow-up 55 months. Assumed risk 32/212 = 15%; corresponding risk 40/202 = 20% (APF once a day) and 43/197 = 22% (APF twice a day). Relative effect: Not…
1 study · 611 participants
Very low
Calculus · Dentate adults aged 16 years or older (excluding orthodontic patients and those with severe periodontal disease)
The review found no eligible studies for this question.
1 finding from 1 review
Quality of life · Dentate adults aged 16 years or older (excluding orthodontic patients and those with severe periodontal disease)
The review found no eligible studies for this question.
1 finding from 1 review
Caries in deciduous teeth (change in dmft) · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or less
1 finding from 1 review
Caries increment on permanent tooth surfaces (D(M)FS), prevented fraction · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or younger (permanent dentition)
7 findings from 1 review
Show 4 more findings
PF 0.28 [0.19, 0.37]
22 studies
GRADE not reported
PF 0.40 [0.31, 0.49]
17 studies
GRADE not reported
PF 0.24 [0.21, 0.28]
70 studies
GRADE not reported
PF 0.46 [0.30, 0.63]
7 studies
GRADE not reported
Caries increment on primary (deciduous) tooth surfaces (d(e/m)fs), prevented fraction · Children with primary (deciduous) teeth (younger children)
5 findings from 1 review
PF 0.26 [-0.11, 0.63]
2 studies
GRADE not reported
PF 0.41 [0.26, 0.55]
2 studies
GRADE not reported
PF 0.27 [0.08, 0.48]
3 studies
GRADE not reported
Show 2 more findings
PF 0.33 [0.22, 0.44]
5 studies
GRADE not reported
PF 0.33 [0.19, 0.48]
3 studies
GRADE not reported
Caries increment on permanent whole teeth (D(M)FT), prevented fraction · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or younger (permanent dentition)
7 findings from 1 review
PF 0.26 [0.21, 0.30]
79 studies
GRADE not reported
PF 0.53 [0.23, 0.82]
3 studies
GRADE not reported
PF 0.32 [0.19, 0.46]
10 studies
GRADE not reported
Show 4 more findings
PF 0.45 [0.32, 0.58]
7 studies
GRADE not reported
PF 0.24 [0.18, 0.30]
13 studies
GRADE not reported
PF 0.24 [0.20, 0.28]
72 studies
GRADE not reported
PF 0.23 [0.19, 0.28]
53 studies
GRADE not reported
Adverse effects: dental fluorosis · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or less
The review found no eligible studies for this question.
1 finding from 1 review
Caries increment on permanent tooth surfaces (D(M)FS), prevented fraction · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or less
1 finding from 1 review
Proportion developing new caries · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or less
Fluoride toothpaste showed no clear difference in proportion of children developing one or more new caries compared with placebo (non-fluoride) toothpaste; GRADE not reported.
1 finding from 1 review