Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2025 Mar;27(1):e70027.
doi: 10.1111/nhs.70027.

Oral Health Care: A Systematic Review of Clinical Practice Guidelines

Chiara Gallione  1   2 , Erika Bassi  2   3 , Arianna Cattaneo  4 , Erica Busca  1   2 , Ines Basso  2 , Alberto Dal Molin  2   3
Affiliations

Oral Health Care: A Systematic Review of Clinical Practice Guidelines

Chiara Gallione et al. Nurs Health Sci. 2025 Mar.

Abstract

Maintaining good oral hygiene is essential for preventing and managing oral health problems. This systematic review aimed to identify and assess clinical practice guidelines on oral hygiene, focusing on quality and key areas. A comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, Cochrane, and organizational websites. Guidelines from health organizations that focused on oral health, hygiene education, and disease prevention were included. Guidelines based on expert opinions and those focusing on specific pathologies were excluded. The AGREE II tool was used to evaluate quality, and a narrative synthesis summarized recommendations across pediatric, adult, and senior age groups. Nine studies were reviewed. Results showed that electric toothbrushes do not significantly outperform manual ones in preventing cavities, though they may reduce plaque. Fluoride toothpaste is less effective if followed by rinsing with water. For adults, mouthwashes with chlorhexidine or sodium fluoride are recommended. Checkups every six months are advised for healthy children and adults. Proper denture care is also emphasized. Regular updates to oral care guidelines are necessary, as oral health affects essential functions and social well-being.

Keywords: oral health; oral hygiene; practice guideline.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
PRISMA flow chart (Page et al. 2021).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry . 2020. Adolescent Oral Health Care, The Reference Manual of Pediatric Dentistry, 267–276. Chicago III: American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. https://www.aapd.org/research/oral‐health‐policies‐‐recommendations/adol....
    1. Andrade, R. , Pereira R., Van Cingel R., Staal J. B., and Espregueira‐Mendes J.. 2020. “How Should Clinicians Rehabilitate Patients After ACL Reconstruction? A Systematic Review of Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs) With a Focus on Quality Appraisal (AGREE II).” British Journal of Sports Medicine 54, no. 9: 512–519. 10.1136/bjsports-2018-100310. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Atkins, D. , Best D., Briss P. A., et al. 2004. “Grading Quality of Evidence and Strength of Recommendations.” BMJ 328, no. 7454: 1490. 10.1136/bmj.328.7454.1490. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Bhagat, V. , Hoang H., Crocombe L. A., and Goldberg L. R.. 2020. “Incorporating Oral Health Care Education in Undergraduate Nursing Curricula – A Systematic Review.” BMC Nursing 19, no. 66. 10.1186/s12912-020-00454-6. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Brouwers, M. C. , Kho M. E., Browman G. P., et al. 2010. “AGREE II: Advancing Guideline Development, Reporting and Evaluation in Healthcare.” CMAJ 182, no. 18: E839–E842. 10.1503/cmaj.090449. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

Publication types