Effects of Chewing Gum for Dry Mouth in Diabetes

NCT ID: NCT07084532

Last Updated: 2025-07-24

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

80 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2024-02-12

Study Completion Date

2024-06-28

Brief Summary

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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.

Detailed Description

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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.

Conditions

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Diabetes (DM) Dry Mouth

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Quasi-experimental in a pre-test-post-test design
Primary Study Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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Intervention Group

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.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Chewing gum

Intervention Type OTHER

Dry mouth was diagnosed in the initial assessment of diabetic individuals assigned to the intervention group. Following the assessment, they were asked to chew gum for 15 minutes before each main meal for seven days. Dry mouth was re-evaluated with the Xerostomia Scale seven days later.

Standart Therapy Group

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.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Standart therapy group

Intervention Type OTHER

The control group was informed about the study. They were then assessed for dry mouth. They were asked to follow their standard treatment. They were warned not to chew gum. A day later, dry mouth was assessed again without any treatment.

Interventions

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Chewing gum

Dry mouth was diagnosed in the initial assessment of diabetic individuals assigned to the intervention group. Following the assessment, they were asked to chew gum for 15 minutes before each main meal for seven days. Dry mouth was re-evaluated with the Xerostomia Scale seven days later.

Intervention Type OTHER

Standart therapy group

The control group was informed about the study. They were then assessed for dry mouth. They were asked to follow their standard treatment. They were warned not to chew gum. A day later, dry mouth was assessed again without any treatment.

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

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).
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Çankırı Karatekin University

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Saadet Aybek,

Clinical Nurse

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

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Ankara Bilkent City Hospital

Ankara, Ankara, Turkey (Türkiye)

Site Status

Countries

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Turkey (Türkiye)

Related Links

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Other Identifiers

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CankırıKU-SBF-SA-01

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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