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Head and Neck Cancer Studies / Oral Health in Cancer Treatment · Journal article
Indian Journal of Medical and Paediatric Oncology · August 12, 2026
Encouraging direction, but not yet definitive.
In a single-centre, non-randomized trial of 60 head and neck cancer patients, salt–soda–bicarbonate mouthwash produced greater reduction in radiation-induced oral mucositis over 5 days than both benzydamine mouthwash and routine care, with statistically significant differences demonstrated by post hoc analysis. Benzydamine showed no significant benefit over routine care. The evidence supports feasibility and potential effectiveness but is limited by non-random allocation, lack of blinding, small sample size, and short observation window.
Quasi-experimental pre-test post-test control group study. 60 patients with head and neck cancer undergoing radiotherapy at Dharamshila Narayana Superspeciality Hospital, Delhi. Specific eligibility criteria not stated in abstract.. Intervention: Benzydamine mouthwash (Group I) or salt–soda–bicarbonate mouthwash (Group II), administered three times daily for 1 minute over five consecutive days.. Compared with: Routine oral care (Control Group), administered three times daily for 1 minute over five consecutive days.. n = 60. Single centre: Dharamshila Narayana Superspeciality Hospital, Delhi, India..
Salt–soda–bicarbonate group showed significantly greater reduction in mucositis scores compared with benzydamine group (mean difference = 0.85, p <0.05) Salt–soda–bicarbonate group showed significantly greater reduction in mucositis scores compared with control group (mean difference = 1.25, p <0.05) No statistically significant difference observed between benzydamine group and control group (mean difference = 0.40, p >0.05)
Safety was not reported in the material analysed. Check the source before drawing any conclusion about harm.
Salt–soda–bicarbonate mouthwash may offer a low-cost, feasible alternative for reducing oral mucositis severity in head and neck cancer patients receiving radiotherapy, particularly in resource-limited settings. However, clinicians should await larger, randomized controlled trials before adopting this as standard practice, as the current evidence is limited by design and sample size.
A small quasi-experimental trial with non-random allocation showing salt–soda–bicarbonate mouthwash superior to routine care and benzydamine for oral mucositis reduction over 5 days, but limited by design, sample size, short follow-up, and lack of blinding.
As stated by the source record.
Quoted from the source exactly as published.
Salt–soda–bicarbonate mouthwash may offer a low-cost, feasible alternative for reducing oral mucositis severity in head and neck cancer patients receiving radiotherapy, particularly in resource-limited settings. However, clinicians should await larger, randomized controlled trials before adopting this as standard practice, as the current evidence is limited by design and sample size.
Graded across the dimensions that decide whether you should act, each from what the source actually supports. There is no single score, and where a dimension was not assessed it says so.
Abstract Oral mucositis (OM) is a common and debilitating side effect of radiation therapy (RT) in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC). It causes significant pain, impairs nutrition and oral function, and can lead to treatment interruptions, thereby negatively affecting therapeutic outcomes. Despite the availability of several oral care regimens, there is no standardized intervention universally accepted for its prevention or management. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of benzydamine mouthwash, salt–soda–bicarbonate mouthwash, and routine oral care in reducing the severity of radiation-induced OM in patients with HNC. A quasi-experimental pre-test post-test control group study was conducted at Dharamshila Narayana Superspeciality Hospital, Delhi. Sixty patients undergoing RT for HNC were allocated into three groups using a non-random, time-sequential allocation method (n = 20 each): Group I received benzydamine mouthwash (n = 20 each), Group II received salt–soda–bicarbonate mouthwash (n = 20 each), and the Control Group (n = 20 each) received routine oral care. Each intervention was administered three times daily for 1minute over five consecutive days. The severity of OM was assessed on Day 1 and Day 5 using the Modified Oral Mucositis Assessment Tool (OMAT). Data were analyzed using appropriate statistical tests, including analysis of variance and post hoc comparisons with Tukey's HSD. The mean reduction in mucositis scores was highest in the salt–soda–bicarbonate group. A statistically significant difference was observed between groups (p <0.05). Post hoc analysis revealed that the salt–soda–bicarbonate group showed significantly greater reduction in mucositis scores compared with the benzydamine group (mean difference = 0.85, p <0.05) and the control group (mean difference = 1.25, p <0.05). No statistically significant difference was observed between the benzydamine group and the control group (mean difference = 0.40, p >0.05). Both benzydamine and salt–soda–bicarbonate mouthwashes were effective in reducing the severity of OM among patients undergoing head and neck radiotherapy. However, salt–soda–bicarbonate mouthwash demonstrated comparatively greater benefit and may serve as a feasible, low-cost intervention for routine care, particularly in resource-limited settings. Further well-designed randomized controlled trials with larger sample sizes are recommended to confirm these findings.
Taken from the source record, never inferred. Follow any of these and new work involving them reaches your briefing.