What do systematic reviews say?

Triclosan/copolymer-containing fluoride toothpaste vs Non-fluoride (0 ppm F) placebo toothpaste

• Interventions for managing halitosis 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Niles 1999 (cross-over trial) compared 0.3% triclosan + 2.0% PVM/MA + 0.243% NaF toothpaste versus placebo toothpaste; VSC by gas chromatograph. We could not use the results in the meta-analysis as there was no…
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

Cetylpyridinium chloride mouthwash vs Placebo mouthwash

• Interventions for managing halitosis 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes

  2 weeks
  Adverse events reported by Borden 2002 were not related to the interventions.
  1 study · 47 participants
  GRADE not reported

Chlorine dioxide mouthrinse (with tongue scraping) vs Chlorhexidine mouthwash (with tongue scraping)

• Interventions for managing halitosis 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes

  1 week
  Wirthlin 2011 reported altered taste sensation as the adverse event. OLT scores could not be included in the analysis as the group-wise data were not given.
  1 study · 22 participants
  GRADE not reported

Mouthwash (amine/stannous fluoride; or chlorhexidine + cetylpyridinium + zinc) vs Chlorhexidine mouthwash or tap water

• Interventions for managing halitosis 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes

  7 days
  Wigger-Alberti 2010 mouthwash data (ASF; CHX + CPC + Zn; CHX; tap water) were calculated from a graph (Additional Table 1) but not included, as the report did not give details of sample size per group.
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

Pycnogenol chewing gum vs Placebo chewing gum

Pycnogenol chewing gum showed no clear difference in VSC: methyl mercaptan compared with placebo chewing gum; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for managing halitosis 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes

  4 weeks
  MD -8.4 [-24.95, 8.15]
  1 study · 21 participants
  GRADE not reported

1700 to 2200 ppm F toothpaste vs 1450 to 1500 ppm F toothpaste

1700 to 2200 ppm F toothpaste showed no clear difference in caries increment, tooth index D(M)FT compared with 1450 to 1500 ppm F toothpaste (low certainty).

• Fluoride toothpastes of different concentrations for preventing dental caries 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Closest to 36 months
  SMD 0.05 [-0.19, 0.3]
  Studies not reported
  Low

Chlorhexidine + zinc acetate mouthwash vs Placebo mouthwash

It is very uncertain whether chlorhexidine + zinc acetate mouthwash changes dentist-reported organoleptic test (OLT) score (scale 0 to 5) compared with placebo mouthwash (very low certainty).

• Interventions for managing halitosis 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes

  mean 3 months
  MD -0.2 [-0.58, 0.18]
  1 study · 44 participants
  Very low

1000 or 1100 ppm F toothpaste vs Non-fluoride (0 ppm F) placebo toothpaste

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Fluoride toothpastes of different concentrations for preventing dental caries 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Adverse effects of toothpaste: no studies reported this outcome.
  0 studies
  No studies found

Pycnogenol chewing gum vs Placebo chewing gum

Pycnogenol chewing gum showed no clear difference in VSC: methyl sulphide compared with placebo chewing gum; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for managing halitosis 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes

  4 weeks
  MD -4.7 [-27.01, 17.61]
  1 study · 21 participants
  GRADE not reported

Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) pulpotomy dressing vs Triple antibiotic paste (TAP)

A single 3-arm RCT found no difference in pulpotomy success between MTA and triple antibiotic paste (both 100%; not pooled; ungraded).

• Materials for pulpotomy in immature permanent teeth: a systematic review and meta-analysis. 2019 All outcomes

  1 to 24 months · Pediatric dental clinic (India)
  Single RCT (Eppa 2018, 3-arm; 20 MTA and 20 TAP teeth): 100% clinical and radiographic success in both MTA and TAP at all follow-ups (1-24 months); no difference between groups; not pooled
  1 study · 40 participants
  GRADE not reported

1450 to 1500 ppm F toothpaste vs 250 ppm F toothpaste

1450 to 1500 ppm F toothpaste may leads to lower caries increment, surface index D(M)FS compared with 250 ppm F toothpaste (low certainty).

• Fluoride toothpastes of different concentrations for preventing dental caries 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Closest to 36 months
  SMD -0.21 [-0.33, -0.1]
  Studies not reported
  Low

Mechanical tongue cleaning (tongue scraper) vs No tongue cleaning

It is very uncertain whether mechanical tongue cleaning (tongue scraper) changes dentist-reported organoleptic test (OLT) score (scale 0 to 5) compared with no tongue cleaning (very low certainty).

• Interventions for managing halitosis 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes

  mean 2 weeks
  MD -0.2 [-0.34, -0.07]
  2 studies · 46 participants
  Very low

0.6% eucalyptus chewing gum vs Placebo chewing gum

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

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

It is very uncertain whether 0.2% zinc sulphate toothpaste changes dentist-reported organoleptic test (OLT) score (scale 0 to 5) compared with placebo toothpaste (without zinc) (very low certainty).

• Interventions for managing halitosis 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes

  mean 4 weeks
  MD -1.31 [-1.39, -1.23]
  1 study · 187 participants
  Very low

Oral-health promotion programs (OHPPs): community-based oral-health education/training, supervised toothbrushing with fluoride toothpaste and topical fluoride, dental screening, and dietary advice vs No oral-health promotion program, or a differing (usual-care) action under similar conditions

The single Finnish study showed lower DMFT/S with OHPP (OR 0.48, 95% CI 0.41 to 0.56; ungraded, single study).

• Clinical Effectiveness and Cost-Effectiveness of Oral-Health Promotion in Dental Caries Prevention among Children:… 2019 All outcomes

  Community settings: home visits, telephone contacts, healthcare centers, and primary schools · Country: Finland
  OR 0.48 [0.41, 0.56]
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

Sodium bicarbonate toothpaste vs Control toothpaste (without sodium bicarbonate)

• Interventions for managing halitosis 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes

  6 weeks
  Adverse events reported by Lomax 2017 were not related to the interventions.
  1 study · 148 participants
  GRADE not reported

Subgingival laser irradiation + povidone-iodine vs SRP

It is very uncertain whether subgingival laser irradiation + povidone-iodine changes dentist-reported organoleptic test (OLT) score (scale 0 to 5) compared with SRP alone (very low certainty).

• Interventions for managing halitosis 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes

  mean 4 weeks
  MD 0.49 [0.3, 0.68]
  1 study · 40 participants
  Very low

1000 to 1250 ppm F toothpaste vs 440 to 550 ppm F toothpaste

1000 to 1250 ppm F toothpaste showed no clear difference in caries increment, surface index D(M)FS compared with 440 to 550 ppm F toothpaste (low certainty).

• Fluoride toothpastes of different concentrations for preventing dental caries 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Closest to 36 months
  SMD -0.16 [-0.35, 0.03]
  1 study
  Low

1450 to 1500 ppm F toothpaste vs 1000 to 1250 ppm F toothpaste

1450 to 1500 ppm F toothpaste showed no clear difference in proportion developing new caries compared with 1000 to 1250 ppm F toothpaste (low certainty).

• Fluoride toothpastes of different concentrations for preventing dental caries 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Follow-up: 36 months
  RR 1.02 [0.93, 1.11]
  2 studies · 4328 participants
  Low

Miswak (Salvadora persica) stick vs Chlorhexidine mouthwash

It is very uncertain whether miswak (Salvadora persica) stick changes dentist-reported organoleptic test (OLT) score (scale 0 to 5) compared with chlorhexidine mouthwash (very low certainty).

• Interventions for managing halitosis 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes

  mean 1 week
  MD -0.55 [-1.33, 0.23]
  1 study · 24 participants
  Very low