What do systematic reviews say?

Prostaglandin vs placebo

Prostaglandin showed no clear difference in oral mucositis (moderate to severe) compared with placebo; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for preventing oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Median 28 days
  RR 0.95 [0.81, 1.11]
  1 study · 83 participants
  GRADE not reported

Mucoadhesive disk (carbomer/triglycerides + antimicrobial agents) vs Placebo disk

• Interventions for the management of dry mouth: topical therapies 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes
  No difference in salivary flow rates between active and placebo disks.
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

Mucin-containing lozenge vs placebo control

• Interventions for the management of dry mouth: topical therapies 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Patient preference strongly favoured the mucin lozenge (P < 0.001, binomial test).
  1 study · 42 participants
  GRADE not reported

Chinese herbal medicines vs Control (Dobell's solution)

Chinese herbs (medicine) led to lower oral mucositis (moderate to severe) compared with control (Dobell's solution); GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for preventing oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Median 28 days
  RR 0.27 [0.09, 0.77]
  1 study · 147 participants
  GRADE not reported

Zinc sulphate vs placebo

Zinc sulphate led to lower oral mucositis (moderate to severe) compared with placebo; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for preventing oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Median 28 days
  RR 0.36 [0.18, 0.71]
  1 study · 27 participants
  GRADE not reported

G‐CSF vs placebo/no treatment

G-CSF showed no clear difference in oral mucositis (moderate to severe) compared with placebo/no treatment; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for preventing oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Median 28 days
  RR 0.81 [0.51, 1.3]
  1 study · 40 participants
  GRADE not reported

Allopurinol mouthrinse vs placebo/no treatment

Allopurinol mouthrinse showed no clear difference in oral mucositis (any severity) compared with placebo/no treatment; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for preventing oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Median 28 days
  RR 0.77 [0.5, 1.19]
  4 studies
  GRADE not reported

Buffered 'Prophylin' prophylactic gel vs Placebo gel

• Interventions for the management of dry mouth: topical therapies 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Attempts to measure saliva secretion failed because the elderly participants were unable to co-operate.
  1 study · 14 participants
  GRADE not reported

Amifostine vs placebo/no treatment

Amifostine led to lower oral mucositis (moderate to severe) compared with placebo/no treatment; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for preventing oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Median 28 days
  RR 0.75 [0.58, 0.96]
  6 studies
  GRADE not reported

Keratinocyte GF vs placebo

Keratinocyte GF may leads to lower oral mucositis (severe) compared with placebo (low certainty).

• Interventions for preventing oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Median 28 days
  RR 0.72 [0.58, 0.9]
  6 studies · 559 participants
  Low

Intestinal trefoil factor vs placebo

Intestinal trefoil factor led to lower oral mucositis (any severity) compared with placebo; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for preventing oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Median 28 days
  RR 0.52 [0.35, 0.79]
  1 study · 99 participants
  GRADE not reported

Chlorhexidine vs Cryotherapy (ice chips) 60 minutes

Chlorhexidine showed no clear difference in oral mucositis (moderate to severe) compared with cryotherapy (ice chips); GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for preventing oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Median 28 days
  RR 1.13 [0.64, 1.97]
  1 study · 133 participants
  GRADE not reported

Carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) spray vs Salinum linseed oil spray

• Interventions for the management of dry mouth: topical therapies 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Andersson 1995 (crossover, n=20): more participants experienced a reduction in oral dryness with linseed (Salinum) spray than with CMC spray; crossover data not accounted for, no usable estimate.
  1 study · 20 participants
  GRADE not reported

Chewing gum vs No chewing gum

Chewing gum showed no clear difference in oral mucositis (severe) compared with no chewing gum; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for preventing oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Median 28 days
  RR 1.16 [0.82, 1.64]
  1 study · 140 participants
  GRADE not reported

Povidone vs Water

• Interventions for preventing oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Median 28 days
  no estimate extracted
  2 studies
  GRADE not reported

Zinc sulphate vs placebo

Zinc sulphate showed no clear difference in oral mucositis (any severity) compared with placebo; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for preventing oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Median 28 days
  RR 0.88 [0.69, 1.11]
  1 study · 27 participants
  GRADE not reported

Dental stent vs no treatment

Dental stent showed no clear difference in oral mucositis (severe) compared with no treatment; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for preventing oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Median 28 days
  RR 0.7 [0.28, 1.75]
  1 study · 43 participants
  GRADE not reported

GM-CSF vs sucralfate

GM-CSF showed no clear difference in oral mucositis (moderate to severe) compared with sucralfate; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for preventing oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Median 28 days
  RR 0.96 [0.8, 1.14]
  1 study · 40 participants
  GRADE not reported

Amifostine vs placebo/no treatment

Amifostine probably leads to lower oral mucositis (any severity) compared with placebo/no treatment (moderate certainty).

• Interventions for preventing oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Median 28 days
  RR 0.95 [0.91, 0.99]
  3 studies · 430 participants
  Moderate

Various saliva stimulants (chewable tablet, lozenges, chewing gum, CMC mouthrinse/sprays; 8-arm) vs Saliva substitutes / other products

• Interventions for the management of dry mouth: topical therapies 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Bjornstrom 1990 (8-arm crossover, high risk of bias, 106 enrolled, 55 used all 8 products): all products relieved dry mouth and difficulty talking/swallowing 'to some extent'; V6 chewing gum and Salivin lozenge ranked…
  1 study · 106 participants
  GRADE not reported