What do systematic reviews say?

Interdental brushing plus toothbrushing vs Toothbrushing alone

• Interdental brushing for the prevention and control of periodontal diseases and dental caries in adults 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Not estimable. Only 1 study reported adverse outcomes in terms of problems with the use of the assigned interdental cleaning aids. (See comment) In this comparison the single study (Jared 2005) asked participants to…
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

Interdental brushing plus toothbrushing vs Flossing plus toothbrushing

Interdental brushing plus toothbrushing may leads to lower gingivitis (bleeding and gingival indices; standardised across… compared with flossing plus toothbrushing (low certainty).

• Interdental brushing for the prevention and control of periodontal diseases and dental caries in adults 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes

  1 month (4 to 6 weeks)
  SMD -0.53 [-0.81, -0.24]
  7 studies · 326 participants
  Low
• Interdental brushing for the prevention and control of periodontal diseases and dental caries in adults 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes

  3 months (12 weeks)
  SMD -1.98 [-5.42, 1.47]
  2 studies · 107 participants
  Very low

Interdental brushing plus toothbrushing vs Flossing plus toothbrushing

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Interdental brushing for the prevention and control of periodontal diseases and dental caries in adults 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Not estimable. No included study assessed caries as an outcome. (See comment)
  0 studies
  No studies found

Interdental brushing plus toothbrushing vs Flossing plus toothbrushing

Interdental brushing plus toothbrushing showed no clear difference in plaque (plaque indices; standardised across indices) compared with flossing plus toothbrushing (low certainty).

• Interdental brushing for the prevention and control of periodontal diseases and dental caries in adults 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes

  1 month (4 to 6 weeks)
  SMD 0.10 [-0.13, 0.33]
  7 studies · 326 participants
  Low
• Interdental brushing for the prevention and control of periodontal diseases and dental caries in adults 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes

  3 months (12 weeks)
  SMD -2.14 [-5.25, 0.97]
  2 studies · 107 participants
  Very low

Interdental brushing plus toothbrushing vs Toothbrushing alone

It is very uncertain whether interdental brushing plus toothbrushing changes gingivitis (Loe-Silness gingival index, interproximal; scale 0 to 4) compared with toothbrushing alone (very low certainty).

• Interdental brushing for the prevention and control of periodontal diseases and dental caries in adults 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes

  4 weeks (1 month)
  MD -0.53 [-0.83, -0.23]
  1 study · 62 participants
  Very low

Interdental brushing plus toothbrushing vs Toothbrushing alone

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Interdental brushing for the prevention and control of periodontal diseases and dental caries in adults 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Not estimable. No included study assessed caries as an outcome. (See comment)
  0 studies
  No studies found

Interdental brushing plus toothbrushing vs Flossing plus toothbrushing

• Interdental brushing for the prevention and control of periodontal diseases and dental caries in adults 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Not estimable. 2 studies reported adverse outcomes in terms of problems with the use of the assigned interdental cleaning aids. We were unable to pool data. (See comment) Three further studies reported that no adverse…
  5 studies
  GRADE not reported

Interdental brushing plus toothbrushing vs Toothbrushing alone

It is very uncertain whether interdental brushing plus toothbrushing changes plaque (Quigley & Hein plaque index, Turesky modification; scale 0… compared with toothbrushing alone (very low certainty).

• Interdental brushing for the prevention and control of periodontal diseases and dental caries in adults 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes

  4 weeks (1 month)
  MD -0.95 [-1.34, -0.56]
  1 study · 62 participants
  Very low