What do systematic reviews say?

Fluoride toothpaste vs Any other topical fluoride (gel or 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 0.01 [-0.13, 0.14]
  9 studies · 3801 participants
  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

  1 to 3 years (final follow-up)
  PF -0.05
  1 study · 183 participants
  GRADE not reported

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

Fluoride mouthrinse 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 1.03 [0.84, 1.26]
  3 studies · 1704 participants
  GRADE not reported

Fluoride varnish vs Fluoride mouthrinse

Fluoride varnish 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 1.19 [0.86, 1.65]
  2 studies
  GRADE not reported

Fluoride toothpaste vs Non-fluoride (0 ppm F) placebo toothpaste

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Fluoride toothpastes for preventing dental caries in children and adolescents 2003 · Cochrane All outcomes

  At least 1 year
  Fluorosis data have not been reported in any of the trials.
  0 studies
  No studies found

Fluoride toothpaste vs Non-fluoride (0 ppm F) placebo toothpaste

Fluoride toothpaste showed no clear difference in proportion of children developing one or more new caries compared with placebo (non-fluoride) toothpaste; GRADE not reported.

• Fluoride toothpastes for preventing dental caries in children and adolescents 2003 · Cochrane All outcomes

  At least 1 year
  RR 0.91 [0.80, 1.04]
  7 studies · 2878 participants
  GRADE not reported

Topical fluoride therapy (toothpaste, mouthrinse, gel or varnish; any fluoride agent/concentration; frequency at least once a year) vs placebo or no treatment

• Topical fluoride (toothpastes, mouthrinses, gels or varnishes) for preventing dental caries in children and adolescents 2003 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Data on adverse effects (stain score, proportion of children with tooth staining, signs of sensitivity in oral soft tissue, adverse symptoms such as nausea/vomiting, etching of enamel) were reported in only a few…
  Studies not reported
  GRADE not reported

Fluoride toothpaste vs Non-fluoride (0 ppm F) placebo toothpaste

Fluoride toothpaste led to higher acquiring extrinsic tooth staining (adverse effect; stannous… compared with placebo (non-fluoride) toothpaste; GRADE not reported.

• Fluoride toothpastes for preventing dental caries in children and adolescents 2003 · Cochrane All outcomes

  At least 1 year
  RD 0.24 [0.19, 0.30]
  5 studies · 3948 participants
  GRADE not reported

Topical fluoride therapy (toothpaste, mouthrinse, gel or varnish; any fluoride agent/concentration; frequency at least once a year) vs placebo or no treatment

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Topical fluoride (toothpastes, mouthrinses, gels or varnishes) for preventing dental caries in children and adolescents 2003 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Fluorosis data have not been reported in any of the trials.
  0 studies
  No studies found

Topical fluoride therapy (toothpaste, mouthrinse, gel or varnish; any fluoride agent/concentration; frequency at least once a year) vs placebo or no treatment

Topical fluoride therapy (toothpaste, mouthrinse, gel or varnish;… showed no clear difference in unacceptability of treatment (dropouts/exclusions during the trial) compared with placebo or no treatment; GRADE not reported.

• Topical fluoride (toothpastes, mouthrinses, gels or varnishes) for preventing dental caries in children and adolescents 2003 · Cochrane All outcomes

  During trial · No-treatment-controlled trials
  RR 1.20 [0.85, 1.70]
  10 studies
  GRADE not reported

Fluoride toothpaste vs Non-fluoride (0 ppm F) placebo toothpaste

• Fluoride toothpastes for preventing dental caries in children and adolescents 2003 · Cochrane All outcomes

  At least 1 year
  Oral soft tissue lesions reported in 3 trials, none of which with complete or useable data; all three stated "no lesions attributable to product use were noted".
  3 studies
  GRADE not reported

Topical fluoride therapy (toothpaste, mouthrinse, gel or varnish; any fluoride agent/concentration; frequency at least once a year) vs placebo or no treatment

Topical fluoride therapy (toothpaste, mouthrinse, gel or varnish;… led to lower proportion of children developing one or more new caries compared with placebo or no treatment; GRADE not reported.

• Topical fluoride (toothpastes, mouthrinses, gels or varnishes) for preventing dental caries in children and adolescents 2003 · Cochrane All outcomes
  RR 0.88 [0.82, 0.95]
  13 studies
  GRADE not reported