What do systematic reviews say?

12,500 ppm F (NaF/olaflur/dectaflur) amine fluoride gel, professionally applied every 3 months plus home use vs Placebo gel

It is very uncertain whether 12,500 ppm F (NaF/olaflur/dectaflur) amine fluoride gel,… changes number of participants with new demineralised lesions (DLs) compared with 0 ppm F placebo gel (very low certainty).

• Fluorides for preventing early tooth decay (demineralised lesions) during fixed brace treatment 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes

  At debond; mean follow-up 16.6 months
  RR 0.99 [0.76, 1.27]
  1 study · 312 participants
  Very low

Breastfeeding promotion and support (e.g. individually tailored home-based peer counselling on the importance of breastfeeding, with advice and support for healthy breastfeeding) vs usual care

Breastfeeding promotion and support (e.g. individually tailored… showed no clear difference in caries presence in primary teeth compared with standard care (low certainty).

• Interventions with pregnant women, new mothers and other primary caregivers for preventing early childhood caries 2024 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Children assessed at 5-6 yrs
  RR 0.96 [0.89, 1.03]
  2 studies · 1148 participants
  Low

Breastfeeding promotion and support (e.g. individually tailored home-based peer counselling on the importance of breastfeeding, with advice and support for healthy breastfeeding) vs usual care

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Interventions with pregnant women, new mothers and other primary caregivers for preventing early childhood caries 2024 · Cochrane All outcomes
  dmfs was listed in the SoF table but not assessed (not reported for this comparison).
  0 studies
  No studies found
• Interventions with pregnant women, new mothers and other primary caregivers for preventing early childhood caries 2024 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Children assessed at 5-6 yrs
  MD -0.12 [-0.59, 0.36]
  2 studies · 652 participants
  Low

Rubber/elastomeric cleaning stick plus toothbrushing vs Toothbrushing alone

It is very uncertain whether rubber/elastomeric cleaning stick plus toothbrushing changes gingivitis (proportion of bleeding sites) 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 -0.07 [-0.15, 0.01]
  1 study · 30 participants
  Very low
• Home use of interdental cleaning devices, in addition to toothbrushing, for preventing and controlling periodontal… 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes

  1 month
  MD -0.01 [-0.19, 0.21]
  1 study · 12 participants
  Very low

Rubber/elastomeric cleaning stick plus toothbrushing vs Flossing plus toothbrushing

It is very uncertain whether rubber/elastomeric cleaning stick 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

  4 to 6 weeks
  SMD -0.08 [-0.46, 0.29]
  6 studies · 273 participants
  Very low

Flossing 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

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 periodontitis.
  0 studies
  No studies found

Rubber/elastomeric cleaning stick plus toothbrushing vs Flossing plus toothbrushing

It is very uncertain whether rubber/elastomeric cleaning stick plus toothbrushing changes gingivitis (gingival index) 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

  4 to 6 weeks
  SMD -0.22 [-0.69, 0.24]
  6 studies · 256 participants
  Very low
• Home use of interdental cleaning devices, in addition to toothbrushing, for preventing and controlling periodontal… 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes

  1 month
  MD -0.03 [-0.08, 0.03]
  5 studies · 212 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
  Gingivitis measured by gingival index: Not measured.
  0 studies
  No studies found
• Home use of interdental cleaning devices, in addition to toothbrushing, for preventing and controlling periodontal… 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes

  3 months
  MD -0.25 [-0.37, -0.13]
  1 study · 24 participants
  Very low

Interdental brushing plus toothbrushing vs Toothbrushing alone

It is very uncertain whether interdental brushing plus toothbrushing changes gingivitis (gingival index) 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 -0.53 [-0.83, -0.23]
  1 study · 62 participants
  Very low
• Home use of interdental cleaning devices, in addition to toothbrushing, for preventing and controlling periodontal… 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes

  1 month
  MD -0.05 [-0.13, 0.03]
  1 study · 31 participants
  Very low

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 periodontitis.
  0 studies
  No studies found

Oral irrigation plus toothbrushing vs Flossing plus toothbrushing

It is very uncertain whether oral irrigation plus toothbrushing changes gingivitis (gingival index) 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
  MD -0.06 [-0.12, 0.00]
  1 study · 63 participants
  Very low
• Home use of interdental cleaning devices, in addition to toothbrushing, for preventing and controlling periodontal… 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes

  1 month
  MD -0.12 [-0.19, -0.05]
  2 studies · 133 participants
  Low

Interdental brushing plus toothbrushing vs Toothbrushing alone

Interdental brushing plus toothbrushing may leads to lower plaque compared with toothbrushing alone (low certainty).

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

  1 month
  SMD -1.07 [-1.51, -0.63]
  2 studies · 93 participants
  Low

Wooden cleaning stick plus toothbrushing vs Toothbrushing alone

It is very uncertain whether wooden 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

  3 months
  MD -0.03 [-0.13, 0.07]
  1 study · 24 participants
  Very low

Oral irrigation plus toothbrushing vs Toothbrushing alone

• Home use of interdental cleaning devices, in addition to toothbrushing, for preventing and controlling periodontal… 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Periodontitis measured in one study but useable data not provided (Walsh 1989 reported proportion of sites with >4 mm pocket depth at 3 months but not mean PD; attachment loss measured but no data).
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

Oral irrigation plus toothbrushing vs Toothbrushing alone

It is very uncertain whether oral irrigation plus toothbrushing changes gingivitis (gingival index) 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
  SMD -0.48 [-0.89, -0.06]
  4 studies · 380 participants
  Very low
• Home use of interdental cleaning devices, in addition to toothbrushing, for preventing and controlling periodontal… 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes

  1 month
  MD -0.00 [-0.07, 0.06]
  2 studies · 126 participants
  Low

Interdental brushing plus toothbrushing vs Flossing plus toothbrushing

Interdental brushing plus toothbrushing may leads to lower gingivitis (proportion of bleeding sites) 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 [-0.08, -0.03]
  6 studies · 234 participants
  Low
• Home use of interdental cleaning devices, in addition to toothbrushing, for preventing and controlling periodontal… 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes

  4 to 6 weeks
  SMD -0.40 [-0.70, -0.11]
  3 studies · 183 participants
  Low

Flossing plus toothbrushing vs Toothbrushing alone

It is very uncertain whether flossing plus toothbrushing changes gingivitis (proportion of bleeding sites) 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 -0.03 [-0.14, 0.08]
  2 studies · 158 participants
  Very low
• Home use of interdental cleaning devices, in addition to toothbrushing, for preventing and controlling periodontal… 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes

  1 month
  SMD -0.58 [-1.12, -0.04]
  8 studies · 585 participants
  Low

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

It is very uncertain whether rubber/elastomeric cleaning stick plus toothbrushing changes plaque compared with interdental brushing plus toothbrushing (very 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
  SMD 0.08 [-0.33, 0.49]
  2 studies · 92 participants
  Very low

Wooden cleaning stick plus toothbrushing vs Flossing plus toothbrushing

It is very uncertain whether wooden cleaning stick 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

  3 months
  MD 0.02 [-0.06, 0.10]
  1 study · 24 participants
  Very low