What do systematic reviews say?

Interdental brushing plus toothbrushing vs Flossing plus toothbrushing

It is very uncertain whether interdental brushing plus toothbrushing changes plaque compared with flossing plus toothbrushing (very low certainty).

• Home use of interdental cleaning devices, in addition to toothbrushing, for preventing and controlling periodontal… 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes

  1 month (4 to 6 weeks)
  SMD -0.47 [-0.84, -0.11]
  5 studies · 290 participants
  Very low
• Interdental brushing for the prevention and control of periodontal diseases and dental caries in adults 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes

  1 month (4 to 6 weeks)
  SMD 0.10 [-0.13, 0.33]
  7 studies · 326 participants
  Low
• Interdental brushing for the prevention and control of periodontal diseases and dental caries in adults 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes

  3 months (12 weeks)
  SMD -2.14 [-5.25, 0.97]
  2 studies · 107 participants
  Very low

Interdental brushing plus toothbrushing vs Flossing plus toothbrushing

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Home use of interdental cleaning devices, in addition to toothbrushing, for preventing and controlling periodontal… 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes
  No included study assessed caries as an outcome.
  0 studies
  No studies found
• Interdental brushing for the prevention and control of periodontal diseases and dental caries in adults 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Not estimable. No included study assessed caries as an outcome. (See comment)
  0 studies
  No studies found

Interdental brushing plus toothbrushing vs Flossing plus toothbrushing

• Home use of interdental cleaning devices, in addition to toothbrushing, for preventing and controlling periodontal… 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Five studies reported there were no adverse events. Two studies reported on problems with the use of interdental brushes or floss, which sometimes caused soreness. (Six studies reported on adverse events; none…
  6 studies
  GRADE not reported
• Interdental brushing for the prevention and control of periodontal diseases and dental caries in adults 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Not estimable. 2 studies reported adverse outcomes in terms of problems with the use of the assigned interdental cleaning aids. We were unable to pool data. (See comment) Three further studies reported that no adverse…
  5 studies
  GRADE not reported

Interdental brushing plus toothbrushing vs Flossing plus toothbrushing

Interdental brushing plus toothbrushing showed no clear difference in periodontitis (probing pocket depth) compared with flossing plus toothbrushing (low certainty).

• Home use of interdental cleaning devices, in addition to toothbrushing, for preventing and controlling periodontal… 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes

  4 to 6 weeks
  MD -0.06 [-0.27, 0.16]
  3 studies · 107 participants
  Low

Wooden cleaning stick plus toothbrushing vs Flossing plus toothbrushing

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Home use of interdental cleaning devices, in addition to toothbrushing, for preventing and controlling periodontal… 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes
  No included study assessed periodontitis.
  0 studies
  No studies found

Wooden cleaning stick plus toothbrushing vs Flossing plus toothbrushing

It is very uncertain whether wooden cleaning stick plus toothbrushing changes plaque compared with flossing plus toothbrushing (very low certainty).

• Home use of interdental cleaning devices, in addition to toothbrushing, for preventing and controlling periodontal… 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes

  3 months
  MD 0.02 [-0.06, 0.10]
  1 study · 24 participants
  Very low

Wooden cleaning stick plus toothbrushing vs Flossing plus toothbrushing

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Home use of interdental cleaning devices, in addition to toothbrushing, for preventing and controlling periodontal… 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Gingivitis measured by gingival index: Not measured.
  0 studies
  No studies found
• Home use of interdental cleaning devices, in addition to toothbrushing, for preventing and controlling periodontal… 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes

  3 months
  MD 0.01 [-0.12, 0.14]
  1 study · 24 participants
  Very low

Wooden cleaning stick plus toothbrushing vs Flossing plus toothbrushing

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Home use of interdental cleaning devices, in addition to toothbrushing, for preventing and controlling periodontal… 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Harms and adverse outcomes: Not reported (neither study reported on adverse effects).
  0 studies
  No studies found

Wooden cleaning stick plus toothbrushing vs Flossing plus toothbrushing

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Home use of interdental cleaning devices, in addition to toothbrushing, for preventing and controlling periodontal… 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes
  No included study assessed caries as an outcome.
  0 studies
  No studies found

Rubber/elastomeric cleaning stick plus toothbrushing vs Flossing plus toothbrushing

It is very uncertain whether rubber/elastomeric cleaning stick plus toothbrushing changes plaque compared with flossing plus toothbrushing (very low certainty).

• Home use of interdental cleaning devices, in addition to toothbrushing, for preventing and controlling periodontal… 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes

  4 to 6 weeks
  SMD -0.08 [-0.46, 0.29]
  6 studies · 273 participants
  Very low

Rubber/elastomeric cleaning stick plus toothbrushing vs Flossing plus toothbrushing

It is very uncertain whether rubber/elastomeric cleaning stick plus toothbrushing changes gingivitis (gingival index) compared with flossing plus toothbrushing (very low certainty).

• Home use of interdental cleaning devices, in addition to toothbrushing, for preventing and controlling periodontal… 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes

  4 to 6 weeks
  SMD -0.22 [-0.69, 0.24]
  6 studies · 256 participants
  Very low
• Home use of interdental cleaning devices, in addition to toothbrushing, for preventing and controlling periodontal… 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes

  1 month
  MD -0.03 [-0.08, 0.03]
  5 studies · 212 participants
  Low

Rubber/elastomeric cleaning stick plus toothbrushing vs Flossing plus toothbrushing

• Home use of interdental cleaning devices, in addition to toothbrushing, for preventing and controlling periodontal… 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Five studies assessed adverse events. One did not report findings, but the others reported either no adverse events or minor adverse events that did not significantly differ between interventions.
  5 studies
  GRADE not reported

Rubber/elastomeric cleaning stick plus toothbrushing vs Flossing plus toothbrushing

• Home use of interdental cleaning devices, in addition to toothbrushing, for preventing and controlling periodontal… 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes
  One study measured periodontitis but the data were not usable (Smith 1988 measured PPD but data unusable).
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

Rubber/elastomeric cleaning stick plus toothbrushing vs Flossing plus toothbrushing

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Home use of interdental cleaning devices, in addition to toothbrushing, for preventing and controlling periodontal… 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes
  No included study assessed caries as an outcome.
  0 studies
  No studies found

Interdental brushing plus toothbrushing vs Flossing plus toothbrushing

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Interdental brushing for the prevention and control of periodontal diseases and dental caries in adults 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Not estimable. No included study assessed bad breath as an outcome. (See comment)
  0 studies
  No studies found

Interdental brushing plus toothbrushing vs Flossing plus toothbrushing

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Interdental brushing for the prevention and control of periodontal diseases and dental caries in adults 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Not estimable. No included study assessed quality of life as an outcome. (See comment)
  0 studies
  No studies found

Interdental brushing plus toothbrushing vs Flossing plus toothbrushing

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Interdental brushing for the prevention and control of periodontal diseases and dental caries in adults 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Not estimable. No included study assessed clinical attachment loss, a measure of progression of periodontitis. (See comment)
  0 studies
  No studies found