The Effectiveness of the Carboxymethyl Cellulose (CMC)-Based Artificial Saliva in Head and Neck Cancer Patients after Radiotherapy
The Effectiveness of Artificial Saliva in Head and Neck Cancer Patients after Radiotherapy
Keywords:
artificial saliva, carboxymethyl cellulose, xerostomia, head and neck cancer, radiotherapyAbstract
Buddhachinaraj Phitsanulok Hospital provides dental care for head and neck cancer patients who suffer from xerostomia after radiotherapy. This randomized controlled trial aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) artificial saliva in 48 patients who received services between May 2024 and February 2025. They were divided into an experimental group (CMC artificial saliva) and a control group (drinking water), 24 patients in each group. Xerostomia was evaluated before and after one month of use with an 11-item Thai version of the dry mouth questionnaire. Stimulated saliva was measured by the Saxon test, and pH was tested with litmus paper. Baseline data were similar except for gender and age, which differed significantly (p < 0.001). After one month, xerostomia scores significantly decreased in both groups (p < 0.05), especially for nighttime dryness, dry mouth sensation, and swallowing difficulty. However, there were no differences in salivary flow or pH between groups. This study concludes that the hospital’s CMC artificial saliva can effectively reduce xerostomia symptoms in head and neck cancer patients post-radiotherapy when used for one month but does not affect saliva quantity or pH.
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