title: Does dentifrice use help to remove plaque? A systematic review.
abstract: The aim of this systematic review was to establish the efficacy of brushing with and without a dentifrice for dental plaque removal.
  
  
  
  MEDLINE-PubMed, Cochrane-CENTRAL, EMBASE and other electronic databases were searched. The inclusion criteria were randomized controlled trials and controlled clinical trials and subjects ≥18 years of age with good general health. Studies that evaluated the effect of toothbrushing with a dentifrice compared to brushing without a dentifrice were included. Data were extracted from the eligible studies, and a meta-analysis was performed where feasible.
  
  
  
  The search was conducted until June 2016 and retrieved 10 eligible publications that included 20 comparisons. On average, 49.2% of plaque was removed when brushing was performed with a dentifrice, and 50.3% of plaque was removed when toothbrushing was performed without a dentifrice. The descriptive analysis indicated that the majority of the comparisons did not show an additional effect of dentifrice use. Regarding the meta-analysis of post-brushing scores, no significant difference was observed between toothbrushing with and without a dentifrice (DiffM 0.00, 95%CI [-0.05: 0.05], p = 0.91). The meta-analysis of incremental data (as means or percentages) supported and strengthened these findings.
  
  
  
  The cumulative evidence for this systematic review demonstrates that there is moderate certainty that toothbrushing with a dentifrice does not provide an added effect for the mechanical removal of dental plaque.
authors: Independent Dentist, Hoevelaken, The Netherlands.
authors: Cees
authors: C
authors: Valkenburg
authors: Department of Periodontology Academic Centre for Dentistry, Amsterdam (ACTA), University of Amsterdam and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: Dagmar E
authors: DE
authors: Slot
authors: Division of Clinical Methods and Public Health, Academic Medical Centre (AMC), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: Eric W P
authors: EW
authors: Bakker
authors: Department of Periodontology Academic Centre for Dentistry, Amsterdam (ACTA), University of Amsterdam and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: Fridus A
authors: FA
authors: Van der Weijden
mesh_terms: D003773:Dental Plaque; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D003802:Dentifrices; D006801:Humans; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D014099:Toothbrushing; D014100:Toothpastes
chemical_list: D003802:Dentifrices; D014100:Toothpastes
keywords: dentifrice; oral hygiene; plaque; systematic review; toothbrushing; toothpaste