Oral hygiene for critically ill patients

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This Cochrane review updated assessing the impact of oral health measures on the incidence of ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) in critically ill patients receiving mechanical ventilation in intensive care includes 40 RCTs and suggests that Chlorhexidine mouthwash or gel, as part of oral health measures, probably reduces the incidence of developing VAP.

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Promoting parental supervised toothbrushing practices

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This review of interventions promoting parental supervised toothbrushing practices to reduce caries in children under 8 years included 42 studies. Few of the interventions were underpinned by theory and methodological rigour in their development and evaluation so future interventions need to be guided by complex intervention methodology.

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Enamel white spot lesions: self-application of topical fluorides for prevention and reversal

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This review of self-applied topical fluorides for the prevention reversal of enamel white spot lesions during fixed orthodontic treatment included 3 RCTs two of which were at high risk of bias.

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Chlorhexidine mouthwash: Do anti-discolouration systems reduce effectiveness?

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This review of the effectiveness of chlorhexidine mouthwash with an anti-discoloration system (ADS) is effective in preventing extrinsic tooth surface discoloration included 13 RCTs with the findings suggesting that ADS reduces staining but did not affect its properties with respect to gingival inflammation and plaque scores.

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Toothbrushing in intensive care: Does it reduce the risk of ventilator-associated pneumonia?

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This review of whether toothbrushing-based oral health measures, performed in intensive care units, can reduce the risk of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) included 12 RCTs with the findings suggesting a positive effect.

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Oral hygiene programmes for people with intellectual disabilities

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This Cochrane review of oral hygiene interventions for people with intellectual difficulties included 34 studies (19 RCTs, 15 non-randomised studies) find some interventions provided benefits but their clinical importance was unclear.

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Interdental cleaning devices for prevention and control of caries and periodontal disease

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Thi Cochrane review evaluateingthe effectiveness of interdental cleaning devices used at home, in addition to toothbrushing, compared with toothbrushing alone, for preventing and controlling periodontal diseases, caries, and plaque includes 35 RCTs providing low to very low certainty evidence that floss or interdental brushes in addition to toothbrushing may reduce gingivitis or plaque, or both.

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Fluoride toothpaste: Effects of different fluoride concentrations on caries

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This Cochrane review of effectiveness of different fluoride concentrations of toothpaste in reducing dental caries updates the 2010 review and includes 96 RCTs. It provideds good evidence to support the benefits of using fluoride toothpaste in preventing caries and demonstrates a does response effect.

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Oral care for nursing home residents

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This Cochrane review of the effects of oral care on prevention of nursing home acquired pneumonia included 4 RCTs providing low quality evidence that oral care may reduce mortality.

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Toothbrushing: fluoride toothpaste needed to reduce caries

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Three RCTs were included in this review of the association between personal oral hygiene and coronal dental caries. The findings suggest that in the absence of fluorides personal oral hygiene did not reduce the incidence of caries.

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