Effects of Chewing Gum for Dry Mouth in Diabetes

Çankırı Karatekin University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Diabetes (DM); Dry Mouth

Treatments: Other: Chewing gum; Other: Standart therapy group

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07084532

CankırıKU-SBF-SA-01

Details and patient eligibility

About

Dry mouth can seriously affect the quality of life of individuals because it affects chewing and swallowing functions. One of the diseases in which dry mouth occurs as a side effect of many diseases and/or treatments is diabetes mellitus. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of chewing gum on dry mouth in individuals with diabetes mellitus.

Full description

Diabetic autonomic neuropathy and microvascular changes in the oral mucosa are thought to cause decreased salivary secretion in individuals. Furthermore, poor blood glucose regulation and the accompanying polyuria can cause dehydration, leading to dry mouth and decreased salivary secretion. Decreased salivary secretion and subsequent changes in the oral mucosa have been reported in diabetic individuals with poor glycemic control.

Chewing gum is one of the activities that increases salivary secretion. It affects salivary pH and flow rate through both taste and mechanical stimulation, relieving dry mouth symptoms in individuals. While the unstimulated salivary flow rate in humans is 0.3 ml/min, this rate can reach 7 ml/min in someone chewing gum. Due to these known properties, chewing gum can be beneficial for dry mouth in individuals.

Literature reviews have shown that chewing gum reduces the feeling of dry mouth, increases salivary secretion, and quenches thirst. It is also believed that increased salivary secretion dilutes the bacterial load in the mouth, thus reducing the risk of periodontal disease. It is anticipated that chewing gum may be a factor that can improve the quality of life for patients with chronic diseases that require fluid restriction and a special diet. A review of the literature found no studies demonstrating the effect of gum chewing on dry mouth in individuals with diabetes.

Enrollment: 80 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

The inclusion criteria for individuals in the study were; being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus, having an HbA1c value of 7% and above, being able to communicate verbally, not having hearing loss, and accepting the voluntary consent form voluntarily.

Exclusion criteria

• The exclusion criteria for individuals to be included in the study were having additional diseases that caused dry mouth and oral problems and/or using medication or other treatments for this reason (chemotherapy, radiotherapy, Sjögren syndrome, patients who cannot communicate verbally, have hearing problems, do not want to chew gum, use of antihypertensive, anxiolytic and diuretic drugs).

Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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80 participants in 2 patient groups

Intervention Group

Experimental group

Description:

The intervention group was informed about the study. Dry mouth was noted at baseline. Individuals in the intervention group were asked to chew sugarless gum for 15 minutes before meals and before 3 main meals for 7 days.

Treatment:

Other: Chewing gum

Standart Therapy Group

Experimental group

Description:

Patients in the control group were also informed about the study and completed a data collection form via face-to-face interview. No interventions were performed on the control group patients. They were also informed that they would be re-evaluated one week later during the study and were asked to refrain from chewing gum during this period.

Treatment:

Other: Standart therapy group