Plaque · Dentate adults aged 16 years or older (excluding orthodontic patients and those with severe periodontal disease)
It is very uncertain whether flossing plus toothbrushing (self-performed; manual or automated… changes plaque (Turesky-modified Quigley-Hein/other plaque indices; SMD) compared with toothbrushing alone (with or without a negative-control/placebo rinse) (very low certainty).
3 findings from 1 review
SMD -0.23 [-0.52, 0.06]
5 studies · 416 participants
Very low
SMD -0.06 [-0.23, 0.12]
3 studies · 487 participants
GRADE not reported
SMD -0.20 [-0.36, -0.04]
5 studies · 594 participants
GRADE not reported
Side effects · Dentate adults aged 16 years or older (excluding orthodontic patients and those with severe periodontal disease)
1 finding from 1 review
Not estimable (5 studies). Adverse effects were assessed in five studies, but they used different outcome measures, so meta-analysis was not appropriate. The main harm identified was soft-tissue trauma to the gingival…
5 studies
GRADE not reported
Gingivitis · Dentate adults aged 16 years or older (excluding orthodontic patients and those with severe periodontal disease)
Flossing plus toothbrushing (self-performed; manual or automated… led to lower gingivitis (Gingival Index, 0-3 scale; SMD) compared with toothbrushing alone (with or without a negative-control/placebo rinse); GRADE not reported.
3 findings from 1 review
SMD -0.41 [-0.68, -0.14]
6 studies · 656 participants
GRADE not reported
SMD -0.36 [-0.66, -0.05]
7 studies · 489 participants
Very low
SMD -0.72 [-1.09, -0.35]
4 studies · 564 participants
GRADE not reported
Economic and resource cost of flossing · Dentate adults aged 16 years or older (excluding orthodontic patients and those with severe periodontal disease)
The review found no eligible studies for this question.
1 finding from 1 review
Interproximal caries · Dentate adults aged 16 years or older (excluding orthodontic patients and those with severe periodontal disease)
The review found no eligible studies for this question.
1 finding from 1 review
Periodontitis (clinical attachment loss) · Dentate adults aged 16 years or older (excluding orthodontic patients and those with severe periodontal disease)
The review found no eligible studies for this question.
1 finding from 1 review
Bad breath (halitosis) · Dentate adults aged 16 years or older (excluding orthodontic patients and those with severe periodontal disease)
The review found no eligible studies for this question.
1 finding from 1 review
Calculus · Dentate adults aged 16 years or older (excluding orthodontic patients and those with severe periodontal disease)
The review found no eligible studies for this question.
1 finding from 1 review
Quality of life · Dentate adults aged 16 years or older (excluding orthodontic patients and those with severe periodontal disease)
The review found no eligible studies for this question.
1 finding from 1 review
Side effects · Adults, 16 years and older (dentate)
Bad breath (halitosis) · Adults, 16 years and older (dentate)
The review found no eligible studies for this question.
1 finding from 1 review
Gingivitis · Adults, 16 years and older (dentate)
Interdental brushing plus toothbrushing may leads to lower gingivitis (bleeding and gingival indices; standardised across… compared with flossing plus toothbrushing (low certainty).
Interproximal caries · Adults, 16 years and older (dentate)
The review found no eligible studies for this question.
Plaque · Adults, 16 years and older (dentate)
Interdental brushing plus toothbrushing showed no clear difference in plaque (plaque indices; standardised across indices) compared with flossing plus toothbrushing (low certainty).
Bad breath (halitosis) · Adults, 16 years and older (dentate)
The review found no eligible studies for this question.
1 finding from 1 review
Quality of life · Adults, 16 years and older (dentate)
The review found no eligible studies for this question.
1 finding from 1 review
Gingivitis · Adults, 16 years and older (dentate)
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).
Quality of life · Adults, 16 years and older (dentate)
The review found no eligible studies for this question.
1 finding from 1 review
Interproximal caries · Adults, 16 years and older (dentate)
The review found no eligible studies for this question.
Side effects · Adults, 16 years and older (dentate)