Plaque · Orthodontic patients (any age) undergoing orthodontic treatment (mostly fixed appliances)
CPC mouthwash may reduce plaque-related indexes versus blank control in the short term, but the evidence is very uncertain (very low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Cariogenic bacteria (Mutans streptococci) · People undergoing orthodontic treatment (any age; 9 to 34 years in included studies)
Herbal mouthwash reduced Mutans streptococci versus placebo, but certainty is very low.
1 finding from 1 review
Gingival inflammation-related index · Orthodontic patients (any age) undergoing orthodontic treatment (mostly fixed appliances)
Short-term fluoride mouthwash has uncertain effects on gingival inflammation-related indexes versus blank control (very low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Plaque · People undergoing orthodontic treatment (any age; 9 to 34 years in included studies)
Long-term fluoride mouthwash showed mixed plaque-index effects, with very low-certainty evidence.
2 findings from 1 review
PI was similar to blank control [37]; API was slightly reduced compared to blank control and significant at 6 and 9 months [59].
2 studies
Very low
TI was significantly reduced compared to baseline [34]; PI was significantly reduced compared to baseline but similar to blank control [46].
2 studies
Very low
Cariogenic bacteria (Lactobacilli colony count) · Orthodontic patients (any age) undergoing orthodontic treatment (mostly fixed appliances)
Long-term (>=12 months) fluoride mouthwash may make little or no difference to Lactobacilli colony counts versus blank control (very low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Gingival index (GI) · Orthodontic patients (any age) undergoing orthodontic treatment (mostly fixed appliances)
Chlorhexidine mouthwash may reduce the Gingival Index versus blank control in the short term (WMD -0.54, 95% CI -0.96 to -0.13), but with very high heterogeneity the evidence is very uncertain (very low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Gingival inflammation-related index · People undergoing orthodontic treatment (any age; 9 to 34 years in included studies)
Herbal mouthwash reduced gingival inflammation-related indices versus placebo, but certainty is very low.
1 finding from 1 review
Gingival index (GI) · Orthodontic patients (any age) undergoing orthodontic treatment (mostly fixed appliances)
Herbal mouthwash probably reduces the Gingival Index versus blank control in the short term (WMD -0.20, 95% CI -0.32 to -0.09; moderate certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Plaque index (PI) / oral hygiene · People undergoing orthodontic treatment (any age; 9 to 34 years in included studies)
Chlorhexidine mouthwash reduced Plaque Index versus placebo, but certainty is very low.
1 finding from 1 review
Cariogenic bacteria (Mutans streptococci) · Orthodontic patients (any age) undergoing orthodontic treatment (mostly fixed appliances)
Probiotic mouthwash has inconsistent effects on Mutans streptococci colony counts versus blank control; the evidence is very uncertain (very low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Gingival index (GI) · Orthodontic patients (any age) undergoing orthodontic treatment (mostly fixed appliances)
Chlorhexidine mouthwash probably reduces the Gingival Index versus placebo in the short term (WMD -0.45, 95% CI -0.70 to -0.20; low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Plaque · People undergoing orthodontic treatment (any age; 9 to 34 years in included studies)
Herbal mouthwash reduced several plaque-related indices, but certainty is very low.
1 finding from 1 review
Total bacteria (colony count) · Orthodontic patients (any age) undergoing orthodontic treatment (mostly fixed appliances)
Chlorhexidine mouthwash may reduce total bacteria colony counts versus blank control in the short term, but the evidence is very uncertain (very low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Gingival inflammation-related index · People undergoing orthodontic treatment (any age; 9 to 34 years in included studies)
Herbal mouthwash reduced some gingival inflammation-related indices, but certainty is very low.
1 finding from 1 review
Cariogenic bacteria (Mutans streptococci) · People undergoing orthodontic treatment (any age; 9 to 34 years in included studies)
Herbal mouthwash showed mixed effects on Mutans streptococci, with very low-certainty evidence.
1 finding from 1 review
Plaque · Adults undergoing orthodontic treatment
Aligners may reduce plaque index compared with fixed appliances in adults at 6-12 weeks (MD -0.58, 95% CI -0.82 to -0.34; very low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Lactobacilli presence (CFU > 10^5) · Adults undergoing orthodontic treatment
Aligners probably lower the risk of high lactobacilli counts versus fixed appliances in adults at 3 months (RR 0.09, 95% CI 0.02 to 0.47; low certainty).
2 findings from 1 review
Average fluorescence loss (dF%) · Adults undergoing orthodontic treatment
A single study reported lower average fluorescence (mineral) loss with aligners versus fixed appliances in adults at 3 months (MD -1.40, 95% CI -2.15 to -0.65; ungraded).
1 finding from 1 review
MD -1.40 [-2.15, -0.65]
1 study
GRADE not reported
Plaque · Adolescents/teenagers undergoing orthodontic treatment
A single study reported a lower full-mouth plaque score with aligners versus fixed appliances in adolescents at 12 months (MD -43.48, 95% CI -47.65 to -39.31; ungraded).
3 findings from 1 review
MD -43.48 [-47.65, -39.31]
1 study
GRADE not reported
MD -0.40 [-0.77, -0.03]
1 study
GRADE not reported
MD -14.78 [-16.74, -12.82]
1 study
GRADE not reported
Gingival index (GI) · Adolescents/teenagers undergoing orthodontic treatment
A single study reported lower gingival index with aligners versus fixed appliances in adolescents at 18 months (MD -0.57, 95% CI -0.93 to -0.21; ungraded).
1 finding from 1 review
MD -0.57 [-0.93, -0.21]
1 study
GRADE not reported