What do systematic reviews say?

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

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

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

• Interventions for the management of dry mouth: topical therapies 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Kerr 2010 (crossover, high risk of bias): no difference in oral dryness between active and placebo disks; increase in subjective oral moistness with both, persisting up to 2 weeks after last use (likely carryover);…
  1 study
  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

CMC spray / HCC spray / HCC gel vs Liquid margarine (and between each other)

• Interventions for the management of dry mouth: topical therapies 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Furumoto 1998 (crossover, n=28, medians/IQR): median day-10 oral dryness (lower = less dry): CMC spray 28.00 (3.06), HCC spray 28.75 (2.23), HCC gel 27.75 (3.62), margarine 29.25 (5.06). Only HCC gel showed a…
  1 study · 28 participants
  GRADE not reported

Pilocarpine lozenge (3 mg or 5 mg) vs placebo control

• Interventions for the management of dry mouth: topical therapies 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Single dose (up to 3 hours)
  Taweechaisupapong 2006 (crossover): participants reported a statistically significant improvement in oral dryness after both 3 mg and 5 mg pilocarpine lozenges vs placebo (P <= 0.05); no usable data presented. No…
  1 study · 33 participants
  GRADE not reported

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

• Interventions for the management of dry mouth: topical therapies 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Blixt-Johansen 1992 (parallel, elderly long-term care, poor oral mucosa): oral mucosa improved in both groups but a much greater reduction in oral pathology in the mucin spray group; no data presented.
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

Carbopol (polyacrylic acid/acetate) spray vs Placebo spray

• Interventions for the management of dry mouth: topical therapies 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes
  van der Reijden 1996 (crossover, Sjogren's syndrome): carbopol spray found partially effective; none of the sprays were completely effective; no data suitable for inclusion.
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

Buffered 'Prophylin' prophylactic gel vs Placebo gel

• Interventions for the management of dry mouth: topical therapies 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes
  No difference between buffered gel, unbuffered gel and water for oral pH, cariogenic bacteria or Candida species.
  1 study · 14 participants
  GRADE not reported

Betaine (BET) toothpaste (4%) vs SLS toothpaste (1%) and combined BET+SLS toothpaste

• Interventions for the management of dry mouth: topical therapies 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Rantanen 2003 (crossover): relief of oral dryness BET 44% vs BET+SLS 22% (P = 0.002) vs SLS 18% (P = 0.022) vs reference toothpaste 7% (P < 0.001); betaine-only significantly better than the other toothpastes. No…
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

Oxygenated glycerol triester (OGT) spray vs Saliveeze (aqueous electrolyte) spray

• Interventions for the management of dry mouth: topical therapies 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Mouly 2007b: overall mouth condition improved in both groups; no significant differences between the treatment groups.
  1 study
  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
  Poland 1987 (crossover, high risk of bias, n=20): CMC/sorbitol reported superior to lemon glycerin for reducing oral dryness; brief report, incomplete data, period effect noted; not usable for meta-analysis.
  1 study · 20 participants
  GRADE not reported

Salinum (linseed) mouthwash vs Salinum plus chlorhexidine mouthwash

• Interventions for the management of dry mouth: topical therapies 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Johansson 2001 (crossover, n=33, Sjogren's syndrome): both products improved oral dryness and chewing/swallowing; Salinum alone reduced speaking problems and burning mouth. Paired data not accounted for; no usable…
  1 study · 33 participants
  GRADE not reported

Prophylactic valaciclovir (lower dose) vs Prophylactic valaciclovir (higher dose)

Prophylactic valaciclovir (lower dose) showed no clear difference in presence/absence of HSV oral lesions compared with prophylactic valaciclovir (higher dose); GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for the prevention and treatment of herpes simplex virus in patients being treated for cancer 2009 · Cochrane All outcomes
  RR 0.23 [0.05, 1.03]
  2 studies · 181 participants
  GRADE not reported

Antioxidants (lycopene, curcumin, Oxitard) vs Placebo or no active treatment

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Interventions for managing oral submucous fibrosis 2024 · Cochrane All outcomes
  The trials did not measure hospital admission.
  0 studies
  No studies found

Physiotherapy (tongue-spatula jaw exercises) vs No active treatment (control)

It is very uncertain whether physiotherapy (tongue-spatula jaw exercises) changes maximal mouth opening (interincisal distance) compared with no active treatment (very low certainty).

• Interventions for managing oral submucous fibrosis 2024 · Cochrane All outcomes

  3 to 6 months
  MD 0.50 [-7.72, 8.72]
  1 study · 24 participants
  Very low

Intralesional steroid injection plus adjunctive treatment vs steroid injection

Intralesional steroid injection plus adjunctive treatment showed no clear difference in maximal mouth opening (interincisal distance) compared with intralesional steroid injection alone (low certainty).

• Interventions for managing oral submucous fibrosis 2024 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Less than 3 months
  MD -0.03 [-2.48, 2.43]
  2 studies · 148 participants
  Low
• Interventions for managing oral submucous fibrosis 2024 · Cochrane All outcomes

  3 to 6 months
  MD -0.85 [-3.31, 1.61]
  2 studies · 148 participants
  Low

Topical curcumin gel vs Topical aloe vera gel

It is very uncertain whether topical curcumin gel changes maximal mouth opening (interincisal distance) compared with topical aloe vera gel (very low certainty).

• Interventions for managing oral submucous fibrosis 2024 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Less than 3 months
  MD -0.64 [-3.91, 2.63]
  1 study · 60 participants
  Very low

Buccal fat pad pedicle plus placental extract vs Buccal fat pad pedicle alone

It is very uncertain whether buccal fat pad pedicle plus placental extract changes maximal mouth opening (interincisal distance) compared with buccal fat pad pedicle alone (very low certainty).

• Interventions for managing oral submucous fibrosis 2024 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Less than 3 months
  MD 7.80 [4.90, 10.70]
  1 study · 10 participants
  Very low

Antioxidants (lycopene, curcumin, Oxitard) vs Placebo or no active treatment

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Interventions for managing oral submucous fibrosis 2024 · Cochrane All outcomes
  SoF: participant-reported resumption of normal eating, chewing and speech - outcome not reported by included studies.
  0 studies
  No studies found