Preliminary Comparative Study of Oral7® Versus Salt-Soda Mouthwash on Oral Health Related Problems and Quality of Life among Head and Neck Cancer Patients Undergoing Radiotherapy

BACKGROUND: This quasi-clinical trial compared the effects of Oral7(®) and salt-soda mouthwash on the development of dental caries, salivary gland function, radiation mucositis, xerostomia and EORTC QLQ H&N C35 scores in head and neck cancer patients who underwent radiotherapy. METHODS: We included patients with histopathologically diagnosed head and neck cancers who had received radiation, with an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0–1 and age range of 15–60 years. Patients with prior radiotherapy and chemotherapy, edentulous status, total parotidectomy, sicca syndrome or on xerosis-induced medications were excluded. We assigned 15 patients each to the Oral7(®) and salt-soda groups. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the mean Decayed, Missing and Filling Teeth (DMFT) score between groups. Head and neck cancer patients who were on Oral7(®) had a significantly better quality of life than those on salt-soda in relation to the swallowing problems, social eating, mouth opening, xerostomia and illness scales. Patients who were on Oral7(®) had a significantly lower xerostomia score than patients on salt-soda mouthwash. Patients on Oral7(®) had a significantly lower mucositis score in week 5–7 compared to patients in the salt-soda group. CONCLUSION: Oral7(®) showed advantages over salt-soda solution in relation to reducing xerostomia, easing radiation-induced mucositis, and improving quality of life, despite the non-significant difference in the dental caries assessment.