What do systematic reviews say?

Triamcinolone plus systemic glucosamine sulphate (adjunctive) vs triamcinolone

• Interventions for treating oral lichen planus: corticosteroid therapies 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Hesen 2017: no difference in Thongprasom clinical score with vs without glucosamine sulphate
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

Clobetasol propionate ointment vs Triamcinolone acetonide ointment

Clobetasol propionate ointment may leads to higher clinical resolution compared with triamcinolone acetonide ointment (low certainty).

• Interventions for treating oral lichen planus: corticosteroid therapies 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes
  RR 1.56 [1.09, 2.21]
  2 studies · 57 participants
  Low

Carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) spray vs Placebo (spray base without CMC / water)

• Interventions for the management of dry mouth: topical therapies 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Donatsky 1982 (crossover, n=15, Sjogren's syndrome): CMC spray had a similar effect on oral dryness to the spray base, but was more effective than water. Paired crossover data not presented; effect size not estimable.
  1 study · 15 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

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

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

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

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

Reservoir biteguard device releasing a saliva substitute (with KY… showed no clear difference in xerostomia (Xerostomia Inventory) compared with biteguard without reservoir (with KY jelly + Saliva Orthana); GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for the management of dry mouth: topical therapies 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes
  SMD -0.06 [-0.48, 0.37]
  1 study · 86 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

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

Buffered 'Prophylin' prophylactic gel vs Placebo gel

• Interventions for the management of dry mouth: topical therapies 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Persson 2007 (crossover, n=14, institutionalised elderly): no dry mouth symptom data after treatment were presented.
  1 study · 14 participants
  GRADE not reported

Intraoral device releasing Biotene Oral Balance gel vs usual care without an aid

• Interventions for the management of dry mouth: topical therapies 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes
  More participants preferred the intraoral device (66%) compared with usual care; data not suitable for meta-analysis.
  1 study · 30 participants
  GRADE not reported

Intraoral device releasing Biotene Oral Balance gel vs usual care without an aid

Intraoral device releasing Biotene Oral Balance gel showed no clear difference in salivary flow (unstimulated whole saliva) compared with usual care (no intraoral device); GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for the management of dry mouth: topical therapies 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes
  MD 0.05 [-0.04, 0.14]
  1 study · 30 participants
  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

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

Mucin spray (Saliva Orthana) showed no clear difference in xerostomia (VAS mouth dryness) compared with placebo spray (base without mucin); GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for the management of dry mouth: topical therapies 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Duxbury 1989 (crossover): statistically significant improvement in dry mouth on a VAS favouring the mucin spray group (Analysis 1.2; SMD not numerically reported).
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

Physostigmine gel (1.8 mg) vs Placebo gel

• Interventions for the management of dry mouth: topical therapies 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Khosravani 2009 (crossover, low risk of bias, n=17): reduction in oral dryness (VAS area-under-curve over first 180 minutes) after 1.8 mg physostigmine gel; reported graphically, not usable for meta-analysis.
  1 study · 17 participants
  GRADE not reported