What do systematic reviews say?

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

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
  Risheim 1993 (crossover, high risk of bias, n=18, rheumatic patients): both products gave good subjective relief of dry mouth in slightly less than one third of participants; crossover design not accounted for, no…
  1 study · 18 participants
  GRADE not reported

Gum chewing (sugar-free) vs Within-subject before/after comparison of soft gum vs hard gum (no no-gum control)

One small study found that chewing hard (but not soft) gum increased oral mucosal moisture.

• The effect of gum chewing on xerostomia and salivary flow rate in elderly and medically compromised subjects: a… 2023 All outcomes

  2-week chewing period (soft then hard gum, with 2-week wash-out) · Haemodialysis units, elderly / geriatric care, cancer and palliative care, and xerostomia / hyposalivation clinics (studies from multiple countries)
  Single study [22] (Nakagawa 2017): chewing hard gum significantly increased oral mucosal moisture whereas chewing soft gum did not.
  1 study · 12 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

Chewing gum vs Saliva substitute spray

Chewing gum (mechanical saliva stimulant) showed no clear difference in salivary flow (unstimulated whole saliva) compared with saliva substitute spray; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for the management of dry mouth: topical therapies 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes
  MD 0.01 [-0.01, 0.04]
  2 studies
  GRADE not reported

Chewing gum vs Saliva substitute spray

Chewing gum (mechanical saliva stimulant) led to lower patient preference compared with saliva substitute spray; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for the management of dry mouth: topical therapies 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Bots 2005: statistically significant preference for chewing gum over Xialine spray, 39/49 (80%) preferred gum vs 10/49 (20%) spray (Chi2 17.16, df=1; P < 0.001) (Analysis 2.3). Davies 2000: more people preferred gum,…
  1 study · 65 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

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