What do systematic reviews say?

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

Glutamine vs placebo or usual care

Glutamine showed no clear difference in oral mucositis (any severity) 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 0.78 [0.57, 1.08]
  5 studies
  GRADE not reported

Polaprezinc vs Azulene

Polaprezinc led to lower oral mucositis (moderate to severe) compared with azulene; GRADE not reported.

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

  Median 28 days
  RR 0.43 [0.22, 0.84]
  1 study · 31 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

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

Sucralfate vs placebo or usual care

Sucralfate probably leads to lower oral mucositis (severe) compared with placebo/usual care (moderate certainty).

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

  Median 28 days
  RR 0.67 [0.48, 0.92]
  7 studies · 428 participants
  Moderate

Low‐level laser therapy vs Placebo or no active treatment

Laser (low level) showed no clear difference in oral mucositis (any severity) 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 0.91 [0.71, 1.17]
  5 studies · 234 participants
  GRADE not reported

Breastfeeding (post cleft-lip surgery) vs Spoon-feeding

• Feeding interventions for growth and development in infants with cleft lip, cleft palate or cleft lip and palate 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes

  post-surgery
  Duration of hospital stay (days): no statistically significant difference between the two groups (Darzi 1996); no pooled estimate displayed (totals not selected).
  1 study · 40 participants
  GRADE not reported

Squeezable (modified) feeding bottle vs Rigid feeding bottle

• Feeding interventions for growth and development in infants with cleft lip, cleft palate or cleft lip and palate 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes

  3 to 6 months
  Mean energy and protein intakes (Brine 1994): statistically significant difference for protein intake at 3 and 6 months in favour of the squeezable bottle (P < 0.05); possibly confounded by four infants receiving a…
  1 study · 37 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

Polaprezinc vs Azulene

Polaprezinc showed no clear difference in oral mucositis (any severity) compared with azulene; GRADE not reported.

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

  Median 28 days
  RR 0.82 [0.63, 1.06]
  1 study · 31 participants
  GRADE not reported

Shenqi-fanghou vs no treatment

Shenqi-fanghou led to lower oral mucositis (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 0.2 [0.11, 0.36]
  1 study · 140 participants
  GRADE not reported

Keratinocyte GF vs placebo

Keratinocyte GF led to lower 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 0.74 [0.62, 0.89]
  7 studies
  GRADE not reported

Histamine gel vs placebo

Histamine gel showed no clear difference in oral mucositis (any severity) 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 1.35 [0.91, 1.99]
  1 study · 39 participants
  GRADE not reported

CMC spray / aloe vera gel / canola oil spray vs Mucin spray (and between each other)

• Interventions for the management of dry mouth: topical therapies 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes
  No significant difference in patient preference between the treatments (Chi2 3.67, df=3; P = 0.30).
  1 study · 123 participants
  GRADE not reported

Chlorhexidine vs placebo/no treatment

Chlorhexidine showed no clear difference in oral mucositis (any severity) compared with placebo/no treatment (low certainty).

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

  Median 28 days
  RR 0.76 [0.47, 1.24]
  4 studies · 454 participants
  Low