What do systematic reviews say?

Used fluoride mouth rinse vs No fluoride mouth rinse

Used fluoride mouth rinse showed no clear difference in fluorosis (percentage prevalence in permanent teeth) compared with no fluoride mouth rinse; GRADE not reported.

• Topical fluoride as a cause of dental fluorosis in children 2024 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Fluorosis assessed when most permanent teeth of interest had erupted (6 to 18 years)
  OR 1.44 [0.62, 3.38]
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

Fluoride gel combined with fluoride mouthrinse vs Fluoride mouthrinse

• Combinations of topical fluoride (toothpastes, mouthrinses, gels, varnishes) versus single topical fluoride for… 2004 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Nearest to 3 years
  PF 0.02 [-0.20, 0.24]
  1 study · 252 participants
  GRADE not reported

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

• Combinations of topical fluoride (toothpastes, mouthrinses, gels, varnishes) versus single topical fluoride for… 2004 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Nearest to 3 years
  PF 0.05 [-0.05, 0.15]
  4 studies · 1678 participants
  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 (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 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 gel combined with fluoride mouthrinse vs Fluoride gel

• Combinations of topical fluoride (toothpastes, mouthrinses, gels, varnishes) versus single topical fluoride for… 2004 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Nearest to 3 years
  PF 0.23 [0.04, 0.43]
  2 studies · 497 participants
  GRADE not reported

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

• Combinations of topical fluoride (toothpastes, mouthrinses, gels, varnishes) versus single topical fluoride for… 2004 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Nearest to 3 years
  PF 0.07 [0.00, 0.13]
  5 studies · 2738 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 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 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 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 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

  Nearest to 3 years
  PF 0.10 [0.02, 0.17]
  9 studies · 4026 participants
  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

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 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 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 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 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