What do systematic reviews say?

Camomile vs placebo

Camomile 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 0.89 [0.62, 1.27]
  1 study · 164 participants
  GRADE not reported

Indigo wood root vs saline placebo

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

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

  Median 28 days
  RR 0.75 [0.5, 1.1]
  1 study · 20 participants
  GRADE not reported

Sucralfate vs placebo or usual care

Sucralfate showed no clear difference in oral mucositis (any severity) compared with placebo/usual care (moderate certainty).

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

  Median 28 days
  RR 0.98 [0.88, 1.1]
  3 studies · 222 participants
  Moderate

Intestinal trefoil factor vs placebo

Intestinal trefoil factor showed no clear difference in oral mucositis (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 1.52 [0.06, 36.39]
  1 study · 99 participants
  GRADE not reported

Reservoir biteguard device releasing a saliva substitute (with KY jelly + Saliva Orthana) vs Biteguard without reservoir (with KY jelly + Saliva Orthana)

• Interventions for the management of dry mouth: topical therapies 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes
  More in the reservoir group experienced relief of an oral impact and fewer a new impact (OIDP), but no difference in the total impact score between groups.
  1 study · 86 participants
  GRADE not reported

Zinc sulphate vs placebo

Zinc sulphate led to lower oral mucositis (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 0.05 [0, 0.75]
  1 study · 27 participants
  GRADE not reported

Saliva stimulant lozenge (sorbitol, Sorbee) vs Saliva substitute spray

Saliva stimulant lozenge (sorbitol, Sorbee) led to lower patient preference compared with saliva substitute spray (MouthKote); GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for the management of dry mouth: topical therapies 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Stewart 1998: no statistically significant difference in patient preference between lozenge and spray (Analysis 2.3).
  1 study · 80 participants
  GRADE not reported

Consumption of xylitol chewing gum by women (mothers) vs Profylin lozenge (xylitol/sorbitol + CMC)

• Interventions for the management of dry mouth: topical therapies 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Patients ranked gum and lozenge equal for preference.
  1 study · 18 participants
  GRADE not reported

Glutamine vs placebo or usual care

Glutamine showed no clear difference in oral mucositis (any severity) compared with placebo/usual care; GRADE not reported.

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

  Median 28 days
  RR 0.78 [0.57, 1.08]
  5 studies
  GRADE not reported

Polaprezinc vs Azulene

Polaprezinc led to lower oral mucositis (moderate to severe) compared with azulene; GRADE not reported.

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

  Median 28 days
  RR 0.43 [0.22, 0.84]
  1 study · 31 participants
  GRADE not reported

Consumption of xylitol chewing gum by women (mothers) vs Profylin lozenge (xylitol/sorbitol + CMC)

• Interventions for the management of dry mouth: topical therapies 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes
  No change in stimulated whole saliva.
  1 study · 18 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
  Mean plaque and gingival indices were reduced during the Salinum (linseed) period; incomplete comparative data.
  1 study · 20 participants
  GRADE not reported

Carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) mouthwash vs Glycerin mouthwash

Carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) mouthwash led to higher improvement in dry mouth ('excellent benefit', dichotomous) compared with glycerin mouthwash; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for the management of dry mouth: topical therapies 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes
  RR 3.95 [1.17, 13.36]
  1 study · 148 participants
  GRADE not reported

Saliva stimulant lozenge (sorbitol, Sorbee) vs Saliva substitute spray

Saliva stimulant lozenge (sorbitol, Sorbee) showed no clear difference in salivary flow (unstimulated whole saliva) compared with saliva substitute spray (MouthKote); GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for the management of dry mouth: topical therapies 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes
  MD -0.01 [-0.03, 0.02]
  1 study · 80 participants
  GRADE not reported

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
  No product had a long-term effect on stimulated whole saliva production.
  1 study · 106 participants
  GRADE not reported

Sucralfate vs placebo or usual care

Sucralfate probably leads to lower oral mucositis (severe) compared with placebo/usual care (moderate certainty).

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

  Median 28 days
  RR 0.67 [0.48, 0.92]
  7 studies · 428 participants
  Moderate

Low‐level laser therapy vs Placebo or no active treatment

Laser (low level) showed no clear difference in oral mucositis (any severity) compared with placebo/sham/no treatment; GRADE not reported.

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

  Median 28 days
  RR 0.91 [0.71, 1.17]
  5 studies · 234 participants
  GRADE not reported

CMC/sorbitol pre-moistened swabs vs Lemon glycerin swabs

• Interventions for the management of dry mouth: topical therapies 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes
  CMC/sorbitol also improved dentition and gingival scores; no supporting data presented.
  1 study · 20 participants
  GRADE not reported

Polaprezinc vs Azulene

Polaprezinc showed no clear difference in oral mucositis (any severity) compared with azulene; GRADE not reported.

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

  Median 28 days
  RR 0.82 [0.63, 1.06]
  1 study · 31 participants
  GRADE not reported

Shenqi-fanghou vs no treatment

Shenqi-fanghou led to lower 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 0.2 [0.11, 0.36]
  1 study · 140 participants
  GRADE not reported