What do systematic reviews say?

Rubber/elastomeric cleaning stick plus toothbrushing vs Toothbrushing alone

It is very uncertain whether rubber/elastomeric cleaning stick plus toothbrushing changes plaque compared with toothbrushing alone (very low certainty).

• Home use of interdental cleaning devices, in addition to toothbrushing, for preventing and controlling periodontal… 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes

  1 month
  MD -0.22 [-0.41, -0.03]
  1 study · 30 participants
  Very low

Rubber/elastomeric cleaning stick plus toothbrushing vs Interdental brushing plus toothbrushing

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Home use of interdental cleaning devices, in addition to toothbrushing, for preventing and controlling periodontal… 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes
  No included study assessed caries as an outcome.
  0 studies
  No studies found

Wooden cleaning stick plus toothbrushing vs Toothbrushing alone

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Home use of interdental cleaning devices, in addition to toothbrushing, for preventing and controlling periodontal… 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Harms and adverse outcomes: Not reported (neither study reported on adverse effects).
  0 studies
  No studies found

Rubber/elastomeric cleaning stick plus toothbrushing vs Interdental brushing plus toothbrushing

• Home use of interdental cleaning devices, in addition to toothbrushing, for preventing and controlling periodontal… 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Harms and adverse outcomes (SoF): Not reported. Yost 2006 performed examinations of the oral soft tissue at the final visit but did not report the findings; Graziani 2017 and Smith 1988 did not measure adverse effects.
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

Oral irrigation plus toothbrushing vs Flossing plus toothbrushing

It is very uncertain whether oral irrigation plus toothbrushing changes plaque compared with flossing plus toothbrushing (very low certainty).

• Home use of interdental cleaning devices, in addition to toothbrushing, for preventing and controlling periodontal… 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes

  1 month
  SMD 0.31 [-0.08, 0.70]
  2 studies · 133 participants
  Very low

Rubber/elastomeric cleaning stick plus toothbrushing vs Interdental brushing plus toothbrushing

• Home use of interdental cleaning devices, in addition to toothbrushing, for preventing and controlling periodontal… 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Two studies measured periodontitis but data not presented or usable (Smith 1988 PPD unusable; Graziani 2017 measured PPD but no data).
  2 studies
  GRADE not reported

Oral irrigation plus toothbrushing vs Toothbrushing alone

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Home use of interdental cleaning devices, in addition to toothbrushing, for preventing and controlling periodontal… 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes
  No included study assessed caries as an outcome.
  0 studies
  No studies found

Rubber/elastomeric cleaning stick plus toothbrushing vs Toothbrushing alone

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Home use of interdental cleaning devices, in addition to toothbrushing, for preventing and controlling periodontal… 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes
  No included study assessed caries as an outcome.
  0 studies
  No studies found

Interdental brushing plus toothbrushing vs Flossing plus toothbrushing

Interdental brushing plus toothbrushing showed no clear difference in periodontitis (probing pocket depth) compared with flossing plus toothbrushing (low certainty).

• Home use of interdental cleaning devices, in addition to toothbrushing, for preventing and controlling periodontal… 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes

  4 to 6 weeks
  MD -0.06 [-0.27, 0.16]
  3 studies · 107 participants
  Low

Wooden cleaning stick plus toothbrushing vs Toothbrushing alone

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Home use of interdental cleaning devices, in addition to toothbrushing, for preventing and controlling periodontal… 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes
  No included study assessed periodontitis as an outcome.
  0 studies
  No studies found

Oral irrigation plus toothbrushing vs Flossing plus toothbrushing

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Home use of interdental cleaning devices, in addition to toothbrushing, for preventing and controlling periodontal… 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes
  No included study assessed caries as an outcome.
  0 studies
  No studies found

Wooden cleaning stick plus toothbrushing vs Flossing plus toothbrushing

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Home use of interdental cleaning devices, in addition to toothbrushing, for preventing and controlling periodontal… 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes
  No included study assessed caries as an outcome.
  0 studies
  No studies found

Flossing plus toothbrushing vs Toothbrushing alone

• Home use of interdental cleaning devices, in addition to toothbrushing, for preventing and controlling periodontal… 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes
  One study measured probing pocket depth but no data were reported (Graziani 2017).
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

Oral irrigation plus toothbrushing vs Flossing plus toothbrushing

• Home use of interdental cleaning devices, in addition to toothbrushing, for preventing and controlling periodontal… 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Both studies reported that there were no adverse events in either study group.
  2 studies
  GRADE not reported

Interdental brushing plus toothbrushing vs Flossing plus toothbrushing

• Home use of interdental cleaning devices, in addition to toothbrushing, for preventing and controlling periodontal… 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Five studies reported there were no adverse events. Two studies reported on problems with the use of interdental brushes or floss, which sometimes caused soreness. (Six studies reported on adverse events; none…
  6 studies
  GRADE not reported

Educational intervention with information only (theoretical dental health education, no practical training) vs usual care

• Oral health educational interventions for nursing home staff and residents 2016 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Schou 1989 (114 residents, unclear risk of bias): no difference in the prevalence of denture stomatitis between the groups.
  1 study · 114 participants
  GRADE not reported

Educational intervention with information only (theoretical dental health education, no practical training) vs usual care

• Oral health educational interventions for nursing home staff and residents 2016 · Cochrane All outcomes
  One study (Schou 1989), at unclear risk of bias and analysing 114 residents, provided insufficient evidence to determine whether denture plaque scores are lower when educating residents or nursing staff without…
  1 study · 114 participants
  GRADE not reported

Educational intervention with information only (theoretical dental health education, no practical training) vs usual care

• Oral health educational interventions for nursing home staff and residents 2016 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Schou 1989 (114 residents, unclear risk of bias): the number of residents reporting correct denture cleaning habits increased, but not significantly compared to baseline (baseline N = 28; follow-up N = 38).
  1 study · 114 participants
  GRADE not reported