Table 3.

Summary for the reduction of gingival indices.

Solutions	n	Weighted Mean Difference (95% Cl)	Index	Compared Control	Follow-up Periods	Reference
CHG	3	−1.20 (−0.23 to −2.16)	GI or MGI	Placebo	6 months	[50]
	10	−0.21 (−0.11 to −0.31)	GI	Baseline	4 to 6 weeks	[46]
	4	−0.185 (−0.285 to −0.086)	GI	Placebo	6 months	[16]
	19	−0.223 (−0.412 to −0.034) †	GI or MGI	Baseline	≥ 4 weeks	[48]
	8	−0.32 (−0.42 to −0.23)	GI	Baseline	6w, 3m, 6m	[49]
EO	9	−1.44 (−0.82 to −2.06)	GI or MGI	Placebo	6 months	[50]
	2	−0.133 (−0.194 to −0.072)	GI	Placebo	6 months	[16]
	8	−0.537 (−0.764 to −0.311)	MGI	Placebo	6 months	[16]
	16	−0.203 (−0.312 to −0.093) †	GI or MGI	Baseline	≥ 4 weeks	[48]
	2	−0.36 (−0.26 to −0.62)	GI	21.6 or 26.9% hydro-alcohol	6 months	[52]
	11	−0.52 (−0.67 to −0.37)	MGI	Placebo	6 months	[51]
	3	−0.24 (−0.46 to −0.01)	GI	Placebo	6 months	[51]
CPC (>0.05%)	2	−1.04 (0.06 to −2.14) *	GI or MGI	Placebo	6 months	[50]
	5	−0.70 (−0.83 to −0.57)	GI	Placebo	≥ 6 weeks	[54]
	3	−0.344 (−0.627 to −0.062)	GI	Placebo	6 months	[16]
	2	−0.357 (−0.483 to −0.231)	MGI	Placebo	6 months	[16]
	8	−0.126 (−0.312 to 0.059) *,†	GI or MGI	Baseline	≥ 4 weeks	[48]
CPC (≤0.05%)	3	−0.31 (0.76 to −1.38) *	GI or MGI	Placebo	6 months	[50]
Del	1	−0.06 (1.86 to −1.98) *	GI or MGI	Placebo	6 months	[50]
	2	−0.038 (−0.145 to −0.069) *	MGI	Placebo	6 months	[16]
	3	−0.014 (−2.337 to 2.308) †,*	GI or MGI	Baseline	≥ 4 weeks	[48]
AmF/SnF AmF/SnF	1	−0.76 (0.72 to −2.25) *	GI or MGI	Placebo	6 months	[50]
	2	−0.248 (−0.427 to −0.069)	GI	Placebo	6 months	[16]
Alexi	1	−0.16 (1.77 to −2.09) *	GI or MGI	Placebo	6 months	[50]
Tric	3	−1.50 (−0.36 to −2.62)	GI or MGI	Placebo	6 months	[50]
Herb	6	−0.15 (−0.32 to 0.01) *	GI	CHG	4 weeks	[57]
	5	−0.09 (−0.25 to 0.08) *	GI	CHG	12 weeks	[57]
	3	−0.28 (−0.51 to −0.06)	GI	Placebo	3 w or 3 m	[59]
	3	−0.59 (−1.08 to −0.11)	MGI	Placebo	2 to 4 weeks	[59]
	5	−0.07 (−0.22 to 0.07) *	GI	CHG	2 to 4 w	[59]
Curcumin	6	−0.13 (−0.35 to 0.09) *	GI	CHG	21 or 28 days	[60]
Green Tea	5	0.43(−0.63 to 1.49) *	GI	CHG	2 to 4 w	[63]
ClO2	4	−0.712 (−0.457 to −0.967)	GI	Placebo	7 to 21 days	[33]

n: number of studies, CHG: chlorhexidine gluconate, EO: essential oils (Listerine antiseptic), CPC: cetylpyridinium chloride. Del: delmopinol, AmF/SnF: amine fluoride/stannous fluoride, Alexi: alexidine, Tric: triclosan, GI: gingival index (Löe and Silness), MGI: modified gingival index. ^† Expressed as the summary relative difference, meaning a percentage change from the baseline. * There was no significant difference (p > 0.05).