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Each row is one question a systematic review asked: who, what, compared with what, and which outcome, with the effect it found and how certain that is. Words match anywhere in the field.
14 questions in 5 reviews · cluster CL0298
current versionsNo studies 0 · 0%Ungraded 14 · 100%Very low 0 · 0%Low 0 · 0%Moderate 0 · 0%High 0 · 0%
Ungraded means an effect was reported without a GRADE rating; it is not a gap. No studies means the review found nothing to answer the question. The six categories are a display order, not a score.
Intervention categories, outcome domains and clusters are a proposed key pending human validation. Clear all filters
| Question | Effect | Evidence | Status / GRADE |
|---|---|---|---|
Xylitol chewing gum vs No treatment (no gum / no intervention) Change in Mutans streptococci (MS) count in saliva · Generally healthy individuals across all age groups (infants to elderly) · Post-consumption endpoint (varied durations across trials), Xylitol chewing gum vs no intervention/no gum (3 studies) Clinical Effects of Sugar Substitutes on Cariogenic Bacteria: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. (2024) | SMD -1.47 [-1.94, -0.99] | 3 studies · 136 participants | Ungraded |
Consumption of xylitol chewing gum by women (mothers) vs Consumption of CHX/xylitol gum by women, or CHX varnish applied to women's dentition Child microbiological presence (any mutans streptococci colonisation) · For interventions, pregnant women and mothers of infants in the first year of life; for outcomes, children up to 6… Interventions with pregnant women, new mothers and other primary caregivers for preventing early childhood… (2024) · Cochrane | RR 0.60 [0.45, 0.81] | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Xylitol (low-intensity sweetener/sugar alcohol) in food products (chewing gum, milk, candy, or tablets) vs Sorbitol (low-intensity sweetener) Change in Mutans streptococci (MS) count in saliva · Generally healthy individuals across all age groups (infants to elderly) · Post-consumption endpoint (varied durations across trials), Xylitol gum vs sorbitol gum (2 studies) Clinical Effects of Sugar Substitutes on Cariogenic Bacteria: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. (2024) | SMD -0.16 [-0.44, 0.12] | 2 studies · 201 participants | Ungraded |
Consumption of xylitol chewing gum by women (mothers) vs Consumption of CHX/xylitol gum by women, or CHX varnish applied to women's dentition Mother microbiological presence (mutans streptococci colonisation level, CFU/mL) · For interventions, pregnant women and mothers of infants in the first year of life; for outcomes, children up to 6… Interventions with pregnant women, new mothers and other primary caregivers for preventing early childhood… (2024) · Cochrane | MD 0.50 [0.15, 0.85] | 1 study · 126 participants | Ungraded |
Xylitol (low-intensity sweetener/sugar alcohol) in food products (chewing gum, milk, candy, or tablets) vs No treatment (no gum / no intervention) Change in Mutans streptococci (MS) count in dental plaque · Generally healthy individuals across all age groups (infants to elderly) · Post-consumption endpoint (trial durations 2 wk to 6 mo), Xylitol gum vs no treatment (5 studies, mixed ages) Clinical Effects of Sugar Substitutes on Cariogenic Bacteria: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. (2024) | SMD -0.73 [-1.09, -0.37] | 5 studies · 308 participants | Ungraded |
Xylitol (low-intensity sweetener/sugar alcohol) in food products (chewing gum, milk, candy, or tablets) vs Sorbitol (low-intensity sweetener) Change in Mutans streptococci (MS) count in dental plaque · Generally healthy individuals across all age groups (infants to elderly) · Post-consumption endpoint (varied durations across trials), Xylitol vs sorbitol (4 studies) Clinical Effects of Sugar Substitutes on Cariogenic Bacteria: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. (2024) | SMD -0.45 [-0.69, -0.21] | 4 studies · 323 participants | Ungraded |
Xylitol sugar-free chewing gum vs No sugar-free gum / no chewing gum (or gum-base control); no chewing Plaque quantity (plaque index or plaque weight) · Adults and children (predominantly adults; one study in children), with natural dentition · End of study (last reported time point; study durations 4 days to 2 years) A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Role of Sugar-Free Chewing Gum on Plaque Quantity in the Oral… (2022) | SMD -0.743 [-1.148, -0.338] | 7 studies | Ungraded |
Sugar-free chewing gum (any polyol: xylitol, sorbitol, or maltitol), chewed regularly vs No sugar-free gum / no chewing gum (or gum-base control); no chewing Plaque quantity (plaque index or plaque weight) · Adults and children (predominantly adults; one study in children), with natural dentition · End of study (last reported time point; study durations 4 days to 2 years) A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Role of Sugar-Free Chewing Gum on Plaque Quantity in the Oral… (2022) | SMD -0.778 [-1.167, -0.390] | 7 studies | Ungraded |
Sugar-free chewing gum (any polyol: xylitol, sorbitol, or maltitol), chewed regularly vs No sugar-free gum / no chewing gum (or gum-base control); no chewing Plaque quantity (plaque index or plaque weight) · Adults and children (predominantly adults; one study in children), with natural dentition · End of study (last reported time point; study durations 4 days to 2 years), Sensitivity analysis (pre-post correlation set to 0.95 for the SFG group) A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Role of Sugar-Free Chewing Gum on Plaque Quantity in the Oral… (2022) | SMD -1.098 [-1.539, -0.656] | 7 studies | Ungraded |
Sugar-free chewing gum (any polyol-based SFG; predominantly xylitol) vs Pooled controls: no gum, placebo/control gum, probiotic, or fluoride varnish Streptococcus mutans load in the oral cavity (saliva and/or dental plaque) · Adults and children (general population) · Final/end-of-study time point (follow-up 2 weeks to 18 months), Sensitivity analysis: baseline-to-endpoint correlation 0.95 for SFG arm A systematic review and meta-analysis of the role of sugar-free chewing gum on Streptococcus mutans. (2021) | SMD -0.55 [-0.80, -0.30] | 13 studies · 1335 participants | Ungraded |
Sugar-free chewing gum (any polyol-based SFG; predominantly xylitol) vs Pooled controls: no gum, placebo/control gum, probiotic, or fluoride varnish Streptococcus mutans load in the oral cavity (saliva and/or dental plaque) · Adults and children (general population) · Final/end-of-study time point (follow-up 2 weeks to 18 months), Overall (vs all controls) A systematic review and meta-analysis of the role of sugar-free chewing gum on Streptococcus mutans. (2021) | SMD -0.42 [-0.60, -0.25] | 13 studies · 1335 participants | Ungraded |
Xylitol-only sugar-free chewing gum vs Pooled controls: no gum, placebo/control gum, probiotic, or fluoride varnish Streptococcus mutans load in the oral cavity (saliva and/or dental plaque) · Adults and children (general population) · Final/end-of-study time point (follow-up 2 weeks to 18 months), Overall (vs all controls) A systematic review and meta-analysis of the role of sugar-free chewing gum on Streptococcus mutans. (2021) | SMD -0.46 [-0.64, -0.28] | 12 studies · 1295 participants | Ungraded |
Dentirol chewing gum (xylitol) vs Profylin lozenge (xylitol/sorbitol + CMC) Salivary flow (stimulated whole saliva) · Adults seeking treatment for the symptom of dry mouth (xerostomia) due to any cause (e.g. medication, Sjogren's… Interventions for the management of dry mouth: topical therapies (2011) · Cochrane | No change in stimulated whole saliva. | 1 study · 18 participants | Ungraded |
Saliva stimulant lozenge (sorbitol, Sorbee) vs Saliva substitute spray (MouthKote) Salivary flow (unstimulated whole saliva) · Adults seeking treatment for the symptom of dry mouth (xerostomia) due to any cause (e.g. medication, Sjogren's… Interventions for the management of dry mouth: topical therapies (2011) · Cochrane | MD -0.01 [-0.03, 0.02] | 1 study · 80 participants | Ungraded |