What do systematic reviews say?

Chewing gum vs No chewing gum

Chewing gum showed no clear difference in oral mucositis (severe) 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 1.16 [0.82, 1.64]
  1 study · 140 participants
  GRADE not reported

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

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

• 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

Pycnogenol chewing gum vs Placebo chewing gum

Pycnogenol chewing gum led to lower VSC: hydrogen sulphide compared with placebo chewing gum; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for managing halitosis 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes

  4 weeks
  MD -114.9 [-206.59, -23.21]
  1 study · 21 participants
  GRADE not reported

Pycnogenol chewing gum vs Placebo chewing gum

Pycnogenol chewing gum showed no clear difference in VSC: methyl mercaptan compared with placebo chewing gum; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for managing halitosis 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes

  4 weeks
  MD -8.4 [-24.95, 8.15]
  1 study · 21 participants
  GRADE not reported

Pycnogenol chewing gum vs Placebo chewing gum

Pycnogenol chewing gum showed no clear difference in VSC: methyl sulphide compared with placebo chewing gum; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for managing halitosis 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes

  4 weeks
  MD -4.7 [-27.01, 17.61]
  1 study · 21 participants
  GRADE not reported

0.6% eucalyptus chewing gum vs 0.4% eucalyptus chewing gum

It is very uncertain whether 0.6% eucalyptus chewing gum changes dentist-reported organoleptic test (OLT) score (scale 0 to 5) compared with 0.4% eucalyptus chewing gum (very low certainty).

• Interventions for managing halitosis 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes

  mean 4 weeks
  MD -0.1 [-0.37, 0.17]
  1 study · 64 participants
  Very low

0.6% eucalyptus chewing gum vs Placebo chewing gum

0.6% eucalyptus chewing gum showed no clear difference in volatile sulphur compounds (VSC) compared with placebo chewing gum; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for managing halitosis 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes

  4 weeks
  MD 0.0 [-0.21, 0.21]
  1 study · 65 participants
  GRADE not reported

0.6% eucalyptus chewing gum vs Placebo chewing gum

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Interventions for managing halitosis 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes

  mean 4 weeks
  Patient-reported OLT score: listed in the Summary of findings table but no data reported. No data were reported for patient-reported OLT score.
  0 studies
  No studies found

0.6% eucalyptus chewing gum vs Placebo chewing gum

It is very uncertain whether 0.6% eucalyptus chewing gum changes dentist-reported organoleptic test (OLT) score (scale 0 to 5) compared with placebo chewing gum (very low certainty).

• Interventions for managing halitosis 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes

  mean 4 weeks
  MD -0.1 [-0.31, 0.11]
  1 study · 65 participants
  Very low

0.6% eucalyptus chewing gum vs 0.4% eucalyptus chewing gum

0.6% eucalyptus chewing gum showed no clear difference in volatile sulphur compounds (VSC) compared with 0.4% eucalyptus chewing gum; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for managing halitosis 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes

  4 weeks
  MD 0.0 [-0.21, 0.21]
  1 study · 64 participants
  GRADE not reported

0.6% eucalyptus chewing gum vs Placebo chewing gum

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Interventions for managing halitosis 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes

  mean 4 weeks
  Adverse events: listed in the Summary of findings table but no data reported. No data were reported for adverse events.
  0 studies
  No studies found

V6 chewing gum / mucin chewing gum vs Placebo chewing gum

• Interventions for the management of dry mouth: topical therapies 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Aagaard 1992 (crossover, n=43): approximately 50% of participants had an increase in unstimulated whole saliva from all products; unclear how many completed the trial; no usable data.
  1 study · 43 participants
  GRADE not reported

V6 chewing gum / mucin chewing gum vs Placebo chewing gum

• Interventions for the management of dry mouth: topical therapies 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Preference favoured mucin gum (61%) over V6 (21%) and placebo (5%).
  1 study · 43 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

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

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