The Effect of Chewing Gum, Exercises of the Tongue, Lip, Jaw on Salivation, Xerostomia, Dysphagia in Sjögren's Syndrome

Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is a chronic, systemic and autoimmune disease characterized by inflammation, fibrosis, and dysfunction of exocrine glands such as tear and salivary glands. One of the most disturbing symptoms of SS is hyposalivation, xerostomia, and dysphagia due to the hypofunction of salivary glands. While xerostomia is the patient's subjective perception of dry mouth, hyposalivation is also evaluated objectively by salivary flow rate measurement methods (Pinto, 2021). Studies have reported that 0.9% to 64.8% of patients with SS experience xerostomia and 32% to 72% of them experience dysphagia (Orellana et al, 2016).

With the reduction of saliva, patients may experience difficulties in tasting, chewing, swallowing, speaking, and using prosthesis in patients using prostheses (Pinto, 2021). All these negatively affect the quality of life in patients with SS and their treatment is of great importance (Milin et al, 2016; Pinto, 2021). The treatment of dry mouth in patients with SS consists of pharmacological and non-pharmacological stimulation of the salivary glands and the use of artificial saliva preparations (Ramos_casals et al, 2020). Pharmacological methods used in patients with SS have been shown to reduce dry mouth, but these methods are mostly recommended in severe cases (Ramos_casals et al, 2020; Depinoy et al, 2021). In cases where pharmacological methods are not used, non-pharmacological methods such as taste stimulation (lozenge) and mechanical stimulation (gum) are also recommended in the control of dry mouth (Ramos_casals et al., 2020). It is known that chewing gum increases saliva secretion in studies conducted for different patient groups. used in the treatment of xerostomia in patients with SS, but no study has been found examining the relationship between chewing gum and salivation, xerostomia, and dysphagia in patients with SS (Ramos_casals et al, 2020). In the literature review, no study was found in which the effects of the tongue, lip, and jaw exercises on salivation, xerostomia, and dysphagia were evaluated in any patient group. This study was planned to examine the effects of chewing gum and tongue, lip, and jaw exercises on salivation, xerostomia, and dysphagia in patients with SS.

Inclusion criteria

• To be diagnosed as SS according to the 2002 American and European Consensus Group SS classification criteria
• Experiencing xerostomia and dysphagia
• Being between the ages of 18-65
• Not using a total denture
• Not having any other serious illness that will cause dry mouth and dysphagia
• Not having difficulty in chewing and tongue, lip, jaw movement
• Have been receiving treatment for SS for at least 3 months
• To be able to continue working physically and mentally

Exclusion criteria

• Not wanting to participate in the study
• Wanting to leave work voluntarily