What do systematic reviews say?

Mucin spray (Saliva Orthana) vs Placebo spray (base without mucin)

Mucin spray (Saliva Orthana) showed no clear difference in xerostomia (VAS mouth dryness) compared with placebo spray (base without mucin); GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for the management of dry mouth: topical therapies 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Duxbury 1989 (crossover): statistically significant improvement in dry mouth on a VAS favouring the mucin spray group (Analysis 1.2; SMD not numerically reported).
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

Mucin-containing lozenge vs placebo control

Mucin-containing lozenge showed no clear difference in xerostomia (VAS mouth dryness) compared with placebo lozenge; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for the management of dry mouth: topical therapies 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Gravenmade 1993 (crossover, high risk of bias, n=42, Sjogren's syndrome): no statistically significant difference between mucin lozenge and placebo for mouth dryness on a VAS (Analysis 1.2).
  1 study · 42 participants
  GRADE not reported

Commercial mouthcare system (Biotene Oral Balance / Xerostom) vs Usual care or CMC-based control

Commercial mouthcare system (Biotene Oral Balance / Xerostom) led to higher xerostomia (VAS mouth dryness) compared with usual care or CMC-based control; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for the management of dry mouth: topical therapies 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes
  SMD 1.11 [0.33, 1.89]
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

Commercial mouthcare system (Biotene Oral Balance / Xerostom) vs Bioxtra mouthcare system

Biotene Oral Balance mouthcare system led to higher xerostomia (VAS mouth dryness) compared with bioxtra mouthcare system; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for the management of dry mouth: topical therapies 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes
  SMD 0.69 [0.08, 1.30]
  1 study · 20 participants
  GRADE not reported

Chewing gum vs Saliva substitute spray

Chewing gum (mechanical saliva stimulant) showed no clear difference in xerostomia (mouth dryness, VAS/scale) compared with saliva substitute spray; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for the management of dry mouth: topical therapies 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes
  SMD -0.11 [-0.33, 0.11]
  2 studies
  GRADE not reported

Physostigmine gel (1.8 mg) vs Placebo gel

• Interventions for the management of dry mouth: topical therapies 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Khosravani 2009 (crossover, low risk of bias, n=17): reduction in oral dryness (VAS area-under-curve over first 180 minutes) after 1.8 mg physostigmine gel; reported graphically, not usable for meta-analysis.
  1 study · 17 participants
  GRADE not reported