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Each row is one question a systematic review asked: who, what, compared with what, and which outcome, with the effect it found and how certain that is. Words match anywhere in the field.
1,325 questions in 34 reviews · Oral medicine and oral cancer
current versionsNo studies 164 · 12.4%Ungraded 841 · 63.5%Very low 209 · 15.8%Low 72 · 5.4%Moderate 38 · 2.9%High 1 · 0.1%
Ungraded means an effect was reported without a GRADE rating; it is not a gap. No studies means the review found nothing to answer the question. The six categories are a display order, not a score.
| Question | Effect | Evidence | Status / GRADE |
|---|---|---|---|
Mechanical tongue cleaning (tongue scraper) vs No tongue cleaning Dentist-reported organoleptic test (OLT) score (scale 0 to 5) · Adolescents and adults aged over 16 years with clinical or self-assessed halitosis of oral origin; excluding induced… · mean 2 weeks Interventions for managing halitosis (2019) · Cochrane | MD -0.2 [-0.34, -0.07] | 2 studies · 46 participants | Very low |
0.6% eucalyptus chewing gum vs Placebo chewing gum Adverse events · Adolescents and adults aged over 16 years with clinical or self-assessed halitosis of oral origin; excluding induced… · mean 4 weeks Interventions for managing halitosis (2019) · Cochrane | Adverse events: listed in the Summary of findings table but no data reported. No data were reported for adverse events. | 0 studies | No studies |
0.2% zinc sulphate toothpaste vs Placebo toothpaste (without zinc) Dentist-reported organoleptic test (OLT) score (scale 0 to 5) · Adolescents and adults aged over 16 years with clinical or self-assessed halitosis of oral origin; excluding induced… · mean 4 weeks Interventions for managing halitosis (2019) · Cochrane | MD -1.31 [-1.39, -1.23] | 1 study · 187 participants | Very low |
Sodium bicarbonate toothpaste vs Control toothpaste (without sodium bicarbonate) Adverse events · Adolescents and adults aged over 16 years with clinical or self-assessed halitosis of oral origin; excluding induced… · 6 weeks Interventions for managing halitosis (2019) · Cochrane | Adverse events reported by Lomax 2017 were not related to the interventions. | 1 study · 148 participants | Ungraded |
Subgingival laser irradiation + povidone-iodine vs SRP alone Dentist-reported organoleptic test (OLT) score (scale 0 to 5) · Adolescents and adults aged over 16 years with clinical or self-assessed halitosis of oral origin; excluding induced… · mean 4 weeks Interventions for managing halitosis (2019) · Cochrane | MD 0.49 [0.3, 0.68] | 1 study · 40 participants | Very low |
Miswak (Salvadora persica) stick vs Chlorhexidine mouthwash Dentist-reported organoleptic test (OLT) score (scale 0 to 5) · Adolescents and adults aged over 16 years with clinical or self-assessed halitosis of oral origin; excluding induced… · mean 1 week Interventions for managing halitosis (2019) · Cochrane | MD -0.55 [-1.33, 0.23] | 1 study · 24 participants | Very low |
Benzethonium chloride mouthwash vs Placebo mouthwash VSC: hydrogen sulphide · Adolescents and adults aged over 16 years with clinical or self-assessed halitosis of oral origin; excluding induced… · 9 days Interventions for managing halitosis (2019) · Cochrane | MD -125.1 [-286.32, 36.12] | 1 study · 20 participants | Ungraded |
Benzethonium chloride mouthwash vs Placebo mouthwash VSC: dimethyl sulphide · Adolescents and adults aged over 16 years with clinical or self-assessed halitosis of oral origin; excluding induced… · 9 days Interventions for managing halitosis (2019) · Cochrane | MD -0.03 [-0.63, 0.57] | 1 study · 20 participants | Ungraded |
Toothbrushing + 0.075% cetylpyridinium chloride mouthwash vs Toothbrushing Adverse events · Adolescents and adults aged over 16 years with clinical or self-assessed halitosis of oral origin; excluding induced… · mean 3 weeks Interventions for managing halitosis (2019) · Cochrane | Adverse events: listed in the Summary of findings table but no data reported. No data were reported for adverse events. | 0 studies | No studies |
Cetylpyridinium chloride mouthwash vs Chlorhexidine + zinc mouthwash Dentist-reported organoleptic test (OLT) score (scale 0 to 5) · Adolescents and adults aged over 16 years with clinical or self-assessed halitosis of oral origin; excluding induced… · mean 2 weeks Interventions for managing halitosis (2019) · Cochrane | MD -0.33 [-0.72, 0.06] | 1 study · 44 participants | Very low |
Mechanical tongue cleaning (tongue scraper) vs No tongue cleaning Volatile sulphur compounds (VSC) · Adolescents and adults aged over 16 years with clinical or self-assessed halitosis of oral origin; excluding induced… · 1 week Interventions for managing halitosis (2019) · Cochrane | MD -7.69 [-47.08, 31.69] | 2 studies · 46 participants | Ungraded |
Toothbrushing + Turkish gall oral rinse vs Toothbrushing Dentist-reported organoleptic test (OLT) score (scale 0 to 5) · Adolescents and adults aged over 16 years with clinical or self-assessed halitosis of oral origin; excluding induced… · 2 weeks Interventions for managing halitosis (2019) · Cochrane | MD -0.1 [-0.5, 0.3] | 1 study · 66 participants | Ungraded |
Essential oil mouthwash vs Placebo mouthwash Adverse events · Adolescents and adults aged over 16 years with clinical or self-assessed halitosis of oral origin; excluding induced… · 2 weeks Interventions for managing halitosis (2019) · Cochrane | Adverse events reported by Borden 2002 were not related to the interventions. | 1 study · 45 participants | Ungraded |
Lactobacillus beta lactoperoxidase (LPO) tablets vs Placebo tablets Volatile sulphur compounds (VSC), OralChroma · Adolescents and adults aged over 16 years with clinical or self-assessed halitosis of oral origin; excluding induced… Interventions for managing halitosis (2019) · Cochrane | Nakano 2017 (2-arm trial) compared Lactobacillus beta LPO tablets versus placebo tablets (VSC by OralChroma). The trial did not report any usable data and hence could not be included in the analysis. | 1 study | Ungraded |
Triphala and Ela decoction mouthwash vs Chlorhexidine mouthwash Dentist-reported organoleptic test (OLT) score (scale 0 to 5) · Adolescents and adults aged over 16 years with clinical or self-assessed halitosis of oral origin; excluding induced… · mean 2 weeks Interventions for managing halitosis (2019) · Cochrane | MD 0.2 [0.09, 0.31] | 1 study · 60 participants | Very low |
0.3% triclosan + PVM/MA + sodium fluoride toothpaste vs Sodium fluoride (control) toothpaste Adverse events · Adolescents and adults aged over 16 years with clinical or self-assessed halitosis of oral origin; excluding induced… · mean 1 week Interventions for managing halitosis (2019) · Cochrane | Adverse events: listed in the Summary of findings table but no data reported. No data were reported for adverse events. | 0 studies | No studies |
Hinokitiol gel vs Placebo gel VSC: hydrogen sulphide · Adolescents and adults aged over 16 years with clinical or self-assessed halitosis of oral origin; excluding induced… · 28 days Interventions for managing halitosis (2019) · Cochrane | MD -2.13 [-5.33, 1.08] | 1 study · 18 participants | Ungraded |
Cetylpyridinium chloride mouthwash vs Chlorhexidine + zinc mouthwash Volatile sulphur compounds (VSC) · Adolescents and adults aged over 16 years with clinical or self-assessed halitosis of oral origin; excluding induced… · 2 weeks Interventions for managing halitosis (2019) · Cochrane | MD 0.49 [-8.68, 9.66] | 1 study · 44 participants | Ungraded |
Halita mouthrinse vs Perio-plus mouthrinse Dentist-reported organoleptic test (OLT) score (scale 0 to 5) · Adolescents and adults aged over 16 years with clinical or self-assessed halitosis of oral origin; excluding induced… · mean 8 days Interventions for managing halitosis (2019) · Cochrane | MD -0.2 [-0.86, 0.46] | 1 study · 36 participants | Very low |
1000 mg champignon extract vs 50 mg champignon extract Patient's family member-reported VAS score (scale 0 to 100) · Adolescents and adults aged over 16 years with clinical or self-assessed halitosis of oral origin; excluding induced… · 2 weeks Interventions for managing halitosis (2019) · Cochrane | MD -0.61 [-15.58, 14.36] | 1 study · 40 participants | Ungraded |
Herbal mouthwash vs Placebo mouthwash Volatile sulphur compounds (VSC) · Adolescents and adults aged over 16 years with clinical or self-assessed halitosis of oral origin; excluding induced… · 15 days Interventions for managing halitosis (2019) · Cochrane | MD -70.29 [-121.01, -19.57] | 1 study · 60 participants | Ungraded |
Toothbrushing + tongue cleaning with a tooth-and-tongue gel (amine/stannous fluoride + zinc lactate) vs Toothbrushing with reference toothpaste (with or without tongue cleaning) OLT, VSC and patient satisfaction scores · Adolescents and adults aged over 16 years with clinical or self-assessed halitosis of oral origin; excluding induced… Interventions for managing halitosis (2019) · Cochrane | Wilhelm 2012 (3-arm cross-over trial) compared toothbrushing with a reference toothpaste, with reference toothpaste plus tongue cleaning, and toothbrushing plus tongue cleaning with a tooth-and-tongue gel (OLT, VSC,… | 1 study | Ungraded |
Keratinocyte growth factor (KGF; palifermin or repifermin), intravenous vs Placebo Normalcy of diet (mean worst ability to eat, 1 to 4 scale) · Adults with cancer receiving treatment · BMT/SCT after conditioning for haematological cancers Interventions for preventing oral mucositis in patients with cancer receiving treatment: cytokines and… (2017) · Cochrane | MD -0.50 [-1.21, 0.21] | 1 study · 42 participants | Ungraded |
Intestinal trefoil factor (ITF), oral spray vs Placebo Oral mucositis (moderate to severe) · Adults receiving chemotherapy alone for colorectal cancer Interventions for preventing oral mucositis in patients with cancer receiving treatment: cytokines and… (2017) · Cochrane | RR 0.22 [0.10, 0.48] | 1 study · 99 participants | Ungraded |
Bethanechol vs Artificial saliva Xerostomia (dry mouth, yes/no) · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region · 8 to 40 weeks postRT Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy (2017) · Cochrane | RR 0.56 [0.30, 1.05] | 1 study · 30 participants | Ungraded |
Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) vs Placebo or no treatment Interruptions to cancer treatment (radiotherapy interruptions) · Adults with cancer receiving treatment · RT to head and neck Interventions for preventing oral mucositis in patients with cancer receiving treatment: cytokines and… (2017) · Cochrane | RR 0.22 [0.01, 4.31] | 1 study · 40 participants | Ungraded |
Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), mouthwash vs Sucralfate mouthwash Interruptions to cancer treatment · Adults receiving radiotherapy to the head and neck · RT to head and neck Interventions for preventing oral mucositis in patients with cancer receiving treatment: cytokines and… (2017) · Cochrane | RR 0.13 [0.01, 2.36] | 1 study · 40 participants | Ungraded |
Polaprezinc vs Azulene oral rinse Salivary flow rate · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy (2017) · Cochrane | No data on salivary flow rates were reported. | 0 studies | No studies |
Bethanechol vs Artificial saliva Salivary flow rate (unstimulated, ml/min) · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region · End of RT Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy (2017) · Cochrane | MD 0.12 [0.01, 0.23] | 1 study · 36 participants | Ungraded |
Palifermin vs Placebo Progression-free survival · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region · 42 to 72 months from baseline Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy (2017) · Cochrane | HR 1.06 [0.80, 1.42] | 3 studies | Ungraded |
Bethanechol vs Artificial saliva Overall survival · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region · 40 weeks postRT Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy (2017) · Cochrane | RR 1.59 [0.43, 5.84] | 1 study · 43 participants | Ungraded |
Epidermal growth factor (EGF), oral spray vs Placebo Oral mucositis (severe) · Adults with cancer receiving treatment · Chemoradiotherapy to the head and neck Interventions for preventing oral mucositis in patients with cancer receiving treatment: cytokines and… (2017) · Cochrane | RR 1.03 [0.59, 1.80] | 1 study · 136 participants | Ungraded |
Amifostine vs No treatment/placebo Dysphagia (grade >= 3, 0-4 scale) · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region · End of RT; up to 3 months postRT Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy (2017) · Cochrane | RR 0.50 [0.17, 1.48] | 2 studies · 73 participants | Ungraded |
Polaprezinc vs Azulene oral rinse Side effects · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy (2017) · Cochrane | No data on adverse events were reported. | 0 studies | No studies |
Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) vs Placebo or no treatment Adverse events · Adults with cancer receiving treatment Interventions for preventing oral mucositis in patients with cancer receiving treatment: cytokines and… (2017) · Cochrane | Adverse events attributed to GM-CSF typically bone pain, nausea, fever and headache; not reported as serious; reporting poor and inconsistent (SoF comments cell, not GRADE-rated) | 8 studies | Ungraded |
Polaprezinc vs Azulene oral rinse Survival · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy (2017) · Cochrane | Tumour response by RECIST criteria reported for a specific group of patients only; no usable survival data (Watanabe 2010) | 1 study | Ungraded |
Keratinocyte growth factor (KGF; palifermin or repifermin), intravenous vs Placebo Oral mucositis (any severity) · Adults with cancer receiving treatment · BMT/SCT after conditioning for haematological cancers Interventions for preventing oral mucositis in patients with cancer receiving treatment: cytokines and… (2017) · Cochrane | RR 0.96 [0.88, 1.05] | 4 studies · 655 participants | Ungraded |
Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) vs Placebo or no treatment Oral mucositis (any severity) · Adults with cancer receiving treatment · BMT/SCT after conditioning for haematological cancers Interventions for preventing oral mucositis in patients with cancer receiving treatment: cytokines and… (2017) · Cochrane | RR 0.91 [0.80, 1.04] | 1 study · 90 participants | Ungraded |
Chinese medicine vs No treatment/placebo Salivary flow rate (stimulated) · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region · End of RT Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy (2017) · Cochrane | MD 0.09 [0.03, 0.15] | 1 study · 50 participants | Ungraded |
Palifermin vs Placebo Xerostomia (grade >= 2, 0-4 scale) · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region · Up to and including 3 months postRT Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy (2017) · Cochrane | RR 0.97 [0.77, 1.22] | 3 studies · 471 participants | Low |
Antiseptic mouthrinse vs Placebo Drooling (hyposialosis) · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region · 4 weeks from baseline Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy (2017) · Cochrane | RR 1.43 [0.46, 4.39] | 1 study · 24 participants | Ungraded |
Zinc supplements (zinc sulphate, zinc gluconate, zinc picolinate, zinc acetate, or polaprezinc) vs Placebo Taste discrimination improvement · Patients with taste disturbances (dysgeusia/hypogeusia; idiopathic, zinc-deficient, or secondary to chronic renal… Interventions for managing taste disturbances (2017) · Cochrane | Results: Matson 2003 used zinc sulphate for testing taste discrimination (sip and spit method); the trial did not report the details of the placebo group and thus the results could not be meta-analysed. Not GRADE-rated. | 1 study | Ungraded |
Keratinocyte growth factor (KGF; palifermin or repifermin), intravenous vs Placebo Number of days in hospital · Adults with cancer receiving treatment · BMT/SCT after conditioning for haematological cancers Interventions for preventing oral mucositis in patients with cancer receiving treatment: cytokines and… (2017) · Cochrane | MD 0.00 [-1.64, 1.64] | 1 study · 281 participants | Ungraded |
Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) vs Placebo or no treatment Oral mucositis (any severity) · Adults with cancer receiving treatment · RT to head and neck Interventions for preventing oral mucositis in patients with cancer receiving treatment: cytokines and… (2017) · Cochrane | RR 1.01 [0.82, 1.23] | 1 study · 29 participants | Ungraded |
Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) vs Placebo or no treatment Oral mucositis (severe) · Adults with cancer receiving treatment · BMT/SCT after conditioning for mixed cancers Interventions for preventing oral mucositis in patients with cancer receiving treatment: cytokines and… (2017) · Cochrane | RR 0.74 [0.33, 1.67] | 3 studies · 235 participants | Low |
Pilocarpine vs No treatment/placebo Quality of life (McMaster HNRQ, 1-7 scale) · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region · Up to and including 6 months postRT Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy (2017) · Cochrane | MD 0.20 [-0.19, 0.59] | 1 study · 90 participants | Very low |
Keratinocyte growth factor (KGF; palifermin or repifermin), intravenous vs Placebo Oral mucositis (any severity) · Adults with cancer receiving treatment · Children Interventions for preventing oral mucositis in patients with cancer receiving treatment: cytokines and… (2017) · Cochrane | Two studies of KGF versus placebo in children were unclear in reporting; no usable data could be presented | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Amifostine vs No treatment/placebo Disease-free survival · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region · 24 months postRT Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy (2017) · Cochrane | RR 0.94 [0.73, 1.21] | 1 study · 170 participants | Ungraded |
Chinese medicine vs No treatment/placebo Side effects · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region · End of intervention; 1 month after RT Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy (2017) · Cochrane | Insufficient evidence of a difference for any side effects | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Amifostine vs No treatment/placebo Quality of life · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region · End of RT; up to 3 months postRT Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy (2017) · Cochrane | MD 0.52 [-0.02, 1.06] | 1 study · 233 participants | Ungraded |