What do systematic reviews say?

Fluoride supplementation (tablets, drops, lozenges or chewing gum) vs No fluoride supplement (placebo or no treatment)

• Fluoride supplements (tablets, drops, lozenges or chewing gums) for preventing dental caries in children 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes

  55 months
  % 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

Fluoride supplementation (tablets, drops, lozenges or chewing gum) vs Topical fluoride (fluoride rinse, varnish or toothpaste)

• Fluoride supplements (tablets, drops, lozenges or chewing gums) for preventing dental caries in children 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes

  24-36 months
  PF 0.13 [-0.07, 0.33]
  2 studies · 1051 participants
  Moderate

Fluoride supplementation (tablets, drops, lozenges or chewing gum) vs No fluoride supplement (placebo or no treatment)

• Fluoride supplements (tablets, drops, lozenges or chewing gums) for preventing dental caries in children 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes

  24-36 months
  PF 0.46 [0.08, 0.83]
  2 studies · 696 participants
  Very low

Fluoride toothpaste vs Fluoride mouthrinse

Fluoride toothpaste showed no clear difference in unacceptability of treatment (drop-outs) compared with fluoride mouthrinse; GRADE not reported.

• One topical fluoride (toothpastes, or mouthrinses, or gels, or varnishes) versus another for preventing dental caries… 2004 · Cochrane All outcomes
  RR 0.89 [0.78, 1.00]
  5 studies
  GRADE not reported

Fluoride toothpaste vs Fluoride mouthrinse

Fluoride toothpaste showed no clear difference in proportion of children developing new caries (permanent) compared with fluoride mouthrinse; GRADE not reported.

• One topical fluoride (toothpastes, or mouthrinses, or gels, or varnishes) versus another for preventing dental caries… 2004 · Cochrane All outcomes
  RR 0.90 [0.60, 1.37]
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

Fluoride mouthrinse (0.05-0.32% sodium fluoride or amine fluoride) added to daily fluoride toothpaste vs Fluoride mouthrinse

Fluoride mouthrinse combined with fluoride toothpaste showed no clear difference in unacceptability of treatment (drop-outs / leaving study early) compared with fluoride mouthrinse alone; GRADE not reported.

• Combinations of topical fluoride (toothpastes, mouthrinses, gels, varnishes) versus single topical fluoride for… 2004 · Cochrane All outcomes
  RR 0.88 [0.67, 1.17]
  3 studies · 1697 participants
  GRADE not reported

Fluoride gel combined with fluoride mouthrinse vs Fluoride gel

Fluoride gel combined with fluoride mouthrinse showed no clear difference in unacceptability of treatment (drop-outs / leaving study early) compared with fluoride gel alone; GRADE not reported.

• Combinations of topical fluoride (toothpastes, mouthrinses, gels, varnishes) versus single topical fluoride for… 2004 · Cochrane All outcomes
  RR 1.00 [0.72, 1.40]
  1 study · 344 participants
  GRADE not reported

Fluoride mouthrinse, gel or varnish combined with fluoride toothpaste (any combined regimen) vs Fluoride toothpaste alone

• Combinations of topical fluoride (toothpastes, mouthrinses, gels, varnishes) versus single topical fluoride for… 2004 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Adverse-effect data scarcely reported: a stain score in one trial and 'any side effects' in one trial without complete or useable data (stated 'no side effects observed in both groups'). No useful information on tooth…
  Studies not reported
  GRADE not reported

Fluoride varnish combined with fluoride toothpaste vs Fluoride varnish

Fluoride varnish combined with fluoride toothpaste showed no clear difference in unacceptability of treatment (drop-outs / leaving study early) compared with fluoride varnish alone; GRADE not reported.

• Combinations of topical fluoride (toothpastes, mouthrinses, gels, varnishes) versus single topical fluoride for… 2004 · Cochrane All outcomes
  RR 0.75 [0.22, 2.59]
  1 study · 196 participants
  GRADE not reported

Fluoride varnish combined with fluoride toothpaste vs Fluoride toothpaste alone

Fluoride varnish combined with fluoride toothpaste showed no clear difference in unacceptability of treatment (drop-outs / leaving study early) compared with fluoride toothpaste alone; GRADE not reported.

• Combinations of topical fluoride (toothpastes, mouthrinses, gels, varnishes) versus single topical fluoride for… 2004 · Cochrane All outcomes
  RR 1.29 [0.61, 2.71]
  2 studies · 294 participants
  GRADE not reported

Fluoride mouthrinse, gel or varnish combined with fluoride toothpaste (any combined regimen) vs Fluoride toothpaste alone

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Combinations of topical fluoride (toothpastes, mouthrinses, gels, varnishes) versus single topical fluoride for… 2004 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Fluorosis data have not been reported in any of the trials.
  0 studies
  No studies found

Fluoride toothpaste vs Fluoride gel

• One topical fluoride (toothpastes, or mouthrinses, or gels, or varnishes) versus another for preventing dental caries… 2004 · Cochrane All outcomes

  1 to 3 years (final follow-up)
  PF 0.00 [-0.21, 0.21]
  3 studies · 1256 participants
  GRADE not reported

Fluoride varnish vs Fluoride toothpaste alone

Fluoride varnish showed no clear difference in unacceptability of treatment (drop-outs) compared with fluoride toothpaste; GRADE not reported.

• One topical fluoride (toothpastes, or mouthrinses, or gels, or varnishes) versus another for preventing dental caries… 2004 · Cochrane All outcomes
  RR 1.28 [0.37, 4.41]
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

Fluoride varnish vs Fluoride toothpaste alone

• One topical fluoride (toothpastes, or mouthrinses, or gels, or varnishes) versus another for preventing dental caries… 2004 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Petersson 1985 reported the proportion of children developing one or more new carious deciduous surfaces; exactly the same proportions were reported in both groups (no evidence of a difference).
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

Fluoride toothpaste vs Fluoride mouthrinse

• One topical fluoride (toothpastes, or mouthrinses, or gels, or varnishes) versus another for preventing dental caries… 2004 · Cochrane All outcomes

  1 to 3 years (final follow-up)
  PF 0.00 [-0.18, 0.19]
  6 studies · 2545 participants
  GRADE not reported

Fluoride gel (topically applied; operator- or self-applied; any fluoride agent/concentration; frequency at least once a year) vs Fluoride mouthrinse

• One topical fluoride (toothpastes, or mouthrinses, or gels, or varnishes) versus another for preventing dental caries… 2004 · Cochrane All outcomes

  1 to 3 years (final follow-up)
  PF -0.14 [-0.40, 0.12]
  1 study · 257 participants
  GRADE not reported

Fluoride varnish vs Fluoride gel

• One topical fluoride (toothpastes, or mouthrinses, or gels, or varnishes) versus another for preventing dental caries… 2004 · Cochrane All outcomes

  1 to 3 years (final follow-up)
  PF 0.14 [-0.12, 0.40]
  1 study · 254 participants
  GRADE not reported

Fluoride mouthrinse, gel or varnish combined with fluoride toothpaste (any combined regimen) vs Fluoride toothpaste alone

Fluoride mouthrinse, gel or varnish combined with fluoride… showed no clear difference in unacceptability of treatment (drop-outs / leaving study early) compared with fluoride toothpaste alone; GRADE not reported.

• Combinations of topical fluoride (toothpastes, mouthrinses, gels, varnishes) versus single topical fluoride for… 2004 · Cochrane All outcomes
  RR 1.06 [0.93, 1.22]
  5 studies · 1998 participants
  GRADE not reported

Fluoride toothpaste vs Any other topical fluoride (gel or mouthrinse)

Fluoride toothpaste showed no clear difference in unacceptability of treatment (drop-outs) compared with any other topical fluoride (gel or mouthrinse); GRADE not reported.

• One topical fluoride (toothpastes, or mouthrinses, or gels, or varnishes) versus another for preventing dental caries… 2004 · Cochrane All outcomes
  RR 0.88 [0.78, 1.00]
  6 studies
  GRADE not reported

Fluoride varnish vs Fluoride mouthrinse

• One topical fluoride (toothpastes, or mouthrinses, or gels, or varnishes) versus another for preventing dental caries… 2004 · Cochrane All outcomes

  1 to 3 years (final follow-up)
  PF 0.10 [-0.12, 0.32]
  4 studies · 952 participants
  GRADE not reported