What do systematic reviews say?

Chewing gum vs No chewing gum

Chewing gum showed no clear difference in oral mucositis (any severity) compared with no chewing gum; GRADE not reported.

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

  Median 28 days
  RR 0.87 [0.71, 1.07]
  1 study · 140 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

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

Oxygenated glycerol triester (OGT) spray showed no clear difference in patient satisfaction compared with saliveeze (aqueous electrolyte) spray; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for the management of dry mouth: topical therapies 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Mouly 2007b: patient satisfaction measured by VAS for global acceptability (Analysis 3.4); no significant difference between treatments for overall oral condition. Satisfaction for taste favoured OGT (mean VAS…
  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

Oral care protocol vs usual care or no treatment

Oral care protocol showed no clear difference in oral mucositis (severe) compared with no treatment/usual care; GRADE not reported.

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

  Median 28 days
  RR 0.84 [0.69, 1.04]
  1 study · 150 participants
  GRADE not reported

Cryotherapy (ice chips) 30 minutes vs Cryotherapy (ice chips) 60 minutes

Cryotherapy (ice chips) 30 minutes showed no clear difference in oral mucositis (any severity) compared with cryotherapy (ice chips) 60 minutes; 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, 1.29]
  1 study · 178 participants
  GRADE not reported

Pentoxifylline vs no treatment

Pentoxifylline showed no clear difference in oral mucositis (moderate to 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 1 [0.68, 1.47]
  1 study · 140 participants
  GRADE not reported

Glutamine vs placebo or usual care

Glutamine showed no clear difference in oral mucositis (moderate to severe) 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 0.88 [0.69, 1.12]
  5 studies
  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

Indomethacin vs placebo

Indomethacin showed no clear difference in oral mucositis (moderate to 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 [0.82, 1.23]
  1 study · 18 participants
  GRADE not reported

Oral care protocol vs usual care or no treatment

Oral care protocol led to lower oral mucositis (any severity) compared with no treatment/usual care; GRADE not reported.

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

  Median 28 days
  RR 0.62 [0.43, 0.91]
  1 study · 30 participants
  GRADE not reported

Oral cryotherapy (ice chips, ice-cold water, ice cubes or crushed ice held in the mouth during cancer treatment) vs no treatment

Cryotherapy (ice chips) may leads to lower oral mucositis (any severity) compared with no treatment (low certainty).

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

  Median 28 days
  RR 0.74 [0.57, 0.95]
  5 studies · 472 participants
  Low

Carbopol (polyacrylic acid/acetate) spray vs Placebo spray

• Interventions for the management of dry mouth: topical therapies 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Patient preference for active sprays vs placebo nearly attained significance (Chi2 7.259, df=3; P = 0.064); 15/43 participants expressed no desire to continue any spray after the trial.
  1 study · 43 participants
  GRADE not reported

Physostigmine gel (1.8 mg) vs Placebo gel

• Interventions for the management of dry mouth: topical therapies 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Approximately fivefold increase in saliva secretion; mean AUC salivary volume 43.4 +/- 9.4 (physostigmine) vs 8.3 +/- 6.6 (placebo), P < 0.001. Adverse effects: 8 mild gastrointestinal upsets, 1 sweating.
  1 study · 17 participants
  GRADE not reported

Prednisone vs placebo

Prednisone showed no clear difference in oral mucositis (moderate to 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 0.71 [0.47, 1.07]
  1 study · 66 participants
  GRADE not reported

Low‐level laser therapy vs Placebo or no active treatment

Laser (low level) led to lower oral mucositis (severe) 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 0.2 [0.06, 0.62]
  2 studies
  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

Camomile vs placebo

Camomile 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 1.14 [0.43, 3.01]
  1 study · 164 participants
  GRADE not reported

Glutamine vs placebo or usual care

Glutamine showed no clear difference in oral mucositis (severe) 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 0.69 [0.37, 1.29]
  5 studies
  GRADE not reported

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

• Interventions for the management of dry mouth: topical therapies 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes
  No difference between systems for overall xerostomia-related quality of life (15-item survey). Bioxtra rated better for taste; no difference for mouth 'feel'. Trial likely underpowered.
  1 study · 20 participants
  GRADE not reported