evidencegaps
Findings

What do systematic reviews say?

Refine by population, intervention, comparison or outcome
More filters
Evidence found and GRADE certainty

37 questions · 41 findings · 9 reviews · Oral Health

Sort:Best matchNewestHighest certaintyDownload CSV
No studies found 2 · 4.9%GRADE not reported 27 · 65.9%Very low 6 · 14.6%Low 6 · 14.6%Moderate 0 · 0%High 0 · 0%

Xylitol lozenges (4.7 g/day) vs no treatment

Number of children with a caries increment · Children (permanent teeth; baseline 8 to 10 years)

Xylitol lozenges (4.7 g/day) showed no clear difference in number of children with a caries increment compared with no treatment; GRADE not reported.

1 finding from 1 review

Xylitol sucking tablets (1 g/day) vs no treatment

Number of infants with a caries increment · Infants/young children (primary teeth; baseline about 1 to 3 years)

Xylitol sucking tablets (1 g/day) showed no clear difference in number of infants with a caries increment compared with no treatment; GRADE not reported.

1 finding from 1 review

Consumption of xylitol chewing gum by women (mothers) vs no intervention

Change in Mutans streptococci (MS) count in saliva · healthy people

Xylitol significantly reduced Mutans streptococci in saliva compared with no intervention (SMD -1.47, 95% CI -1.94 to -0.99; 3 trials), though heterogeneity was very high (I2=98%); not GRADE-rated.

1 finding from 1 review

Xylitol tablets (200 to 600 mg/day) via slow-release pacifier/dummy vs Control (sorbitol) tablets

Number of infants with a caries increment (dmfs) · Infants (primary teeth)

It is very uncertain whether xylitol tablets (200 to 600 mg/day) via slow-release pacifier/dummy changes number of infants with a caries increment (dmfs) compared with control (sorbitol) tablets (very low certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

Consumption of xylitol chewing gum by women (mothers) vs No chewing gum

Plaque · Adults and children (predominantly adults; one study in children), with natural dentition

Xylitol sugar-free gum significantly reduced plaque quantity versus no-gum/control (SMD -0.743, 95% CI -1.148 to -0.338), with high heterogeneity (I2 = 86.0%; ungraded).

1 finding from 1 review

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)

Xylitol-only sugar-free gum significantly reduced Streptococcus mutans load versus pooled controls (SMD -0.46, 95% CI -0.64 to -0.28; 12 trials, I2 43%); certainty not formally graded.

1 finding from 1 review

Gum chewing (sugar-free) 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)

In a sensitivity analysis assuming a 0.95 baseline-to-endpoint correlation for the sugar-free gum arm, the effect remained significant (SMD -0.55, 95% CI -0.80 to -0.30; 13 trials, I2 73%); certainty not formally graded.

2 findings from 1 review

Gum chewing (sugar-free) vs No chewing gum

Plaque · Adults and children (predominantly adults; one study in children), with natural dentition

Sugar-free chewing gum significantly reduced plaque quantity versus no-gum/control (SMD -0.778, 95% CI -1.167 to -0.390), with high heterogeneity (I2 = 86.6%) and no GRADE rating (ungraded).

2 findings from 1 review

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 · healthy people

Xylitol and sorbitol did not differ significantly for Mutans streptococci in saliva (SMD -0.16, 95% CI -0.44 to 0.12; 2 trials, P=.25); not GRADE-rated.

1 finding from 1 review

Xylitol (low-intensity sweetener/sugar alcohol) in food products (chewing gum, milk, candy, or tablets) vs no intervention

Change in Mutans streptococci (MS) count in dental plaque · healthy people

Xylitol significantly reduced Mutans streptococci in dental plaque compared with no treatment (SMD -0.73, 95% CI -1.09 to -0.37; 5 trials, I2=53%; not GRADE-rated).

1 finding from 1 review

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 · healthy people

Xylitol reduced Mutans streptococci in dental plaque more than sorbitol (SMD -0.45, 95% CI -0.69 to -0.21; 4 trials, I2=7%); not GRADE-rated.

1 finding from 1 review

Individually designed, patient-centred preventive programme: dietary counselling (snacking timing, regular meals, fermentable carbohydrates) plus toothbrushing counselling, delivered by trained dental hygienists (a multi-intervention) vs Basic prevention offered as standard in public dental clinics

Using xylitol products more than 3 times per day · Children aged 11 to 12 years with at least one active initial caries lesion, screened in a town in Finland

Individually designed, patient-centred preventive programme: dietary… led to higher using xylitol products more than 3 times per day compared with basic prevention offered as standard in public dental clinics; GRADE not reported.

1 finding from 1 review

V6 chewing gum / mucin chewing gum vs PTC chewing gum (xylitol/sorbitol/mannitol)

Salivary flow rate · Adults seeking treatment for the symptom of dry mouth (xerostomia) due to any cause (e.g. medication, Sjogren's syndrome, radiotherapy,…
1 finding from 1 review
  • Interventions for the management of dry mouth: topical therapies 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes
    Olsson 1991 (crossover, high risk of bias, n=14): both gums increased saliva secretion, peaking 17.5 minutes after chewing started; significant treatment-by-period interaction; no per-group data presented.
    1 study · 14 participants
    GRADE not reported