A Simple Fix for Dry Mouth? Chewing Gum Boosts Saliva in the Elderly and Medically Challenged
New Study Confirms Chewing Gum is an Effective, Low-Cost Intervention to Relieve Chronic Dry Mouth Symptoms and Increase Saliva Flow
The Problem of Dry Mouth
Xerostomia, commonly known as chronic dry mouth, is more than just a minor inconvenience. It is an uncomfortable and often serious condition that significantly degrades a person’s quality of life. For millions of people, a lack of adequate saliva can lead to continuous oral dryness, excessive thirst, and difficulty speaking, chewing, and swallowing food. Furthermore, it can result in more severe complications, including mouth infections, soft tissue soreness, and rampant tooth decay.
The condition is often a side effect of aging, specific medications, or medical procedures such as head and neck radiation therapy. People over 60, as well as those with chronic conditions like diabetes or undergoing treatments like hemodialysis, are particularly vulnerable.
What the Researchers Did
To find effective and accessible solutions, a team of researchers conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis a high-level study that pools and analyzes data from multiple individual studies. The researchers screened over 9,600 published papers and ultimately selected 25 for a comprehensive review, focusing specifically on two key groups: elderly people (over 60 years old) and medically compromised patients experiencing dry mouth (xerostomia).
Their objective was clear: to determine if simply chewing gum could lead to objective improvements in saliva flow rate and subjective relief from the feeling of dryness, compared to not chewing gum. A subset of six studies was used for an in-depth meta-analysis to assess the quantitative impact on natural (unstimulated) saliva flow. The interventions studied involved daily gum chewing for periods of two weeks or longer.
The Key Findings
The results of the analysis provide strong evidence supporting the use of gum chewing as a beneficial treatment:
Objective Increase in Saliva: The meta-analysis confirmed that chewing gum produced a statistically significant overall effect by increasing the unstimulated salivary flow rate the body’s natural, resting level of saliva production in elderly and medically compromised individuals.
Duration Matters: The study found that the benefits of gum chewing accumulate over time. The longer the subjects maintained the chewing regimen (ranging from 2 to 12 weeks), the greater the resulting improvement in their rate of salivation.
Symptom Relief: Beyond the physiological change, gum chewing was also linked to improvements in the patients’ own self-reported levels of xerostomia (feeling of dry mouth).
Conclusion: A Simple, Accessible Treatment
The research concludes that chewing gum is a simple, effective, and accessible intervention for managing chronic dry mouth in vulnerable populations. It is a viable, non-invasive option that provides dual benefits: an objective increase in the rate of saliva flow and subjective relief from the discomfort and thirst associated with xerostomia. This evidence can support the use of gum chewing as a recommended practice to improve the overall quality of life for people suffering from dry mouth.
The effect of gum chewing on xerostomia and salivary flow rate in elderly and medically compromised subjects: a systematic review and meta-analysis
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-023-03084-x
Reference: Dodds, M.W.J., Ben Haddou, M. & Day, J.E.L. The effect of gum chewing on xerostomia and salivary flow rate in elderly and medically compromised subjects: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Oral Health 23, 406 (2023).