Nicotine replacement therapy and oral health: a network meta-analysis of adverse effects in randomized trials

Nicotine replacement therapies (NRTs) are the primary pharmacological option for smokers looking to quit. However, they can lead to oral health issues, including aphthous ulcers, gastric irritation resulting in tooth wear, mouth irritation, soreness, and dryness, which may decrease patient adherence. Dentists should be integrated into the tobacco cessation team to prevent, detect, and manage these oral side effects associated with NRT use. Therefore, the objective of this network meta-analysis is to examine the relationship between different forms of NRTs and their oral side effects.

Databases were screened for literature and full text articles were obtained for eligible studies. Relevant data was extracted. NMA Studio was used to perform random-effects network meta-analysis to generate mixed treatment comparison pooled estimates from odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). The forest plot was generated, and the network diagram was drawn for key comparisons. The OR and 95% CI were estimated from the data on the number of patients that reported the oral side effects in the included studies.

A total of 21 articles were included. The Risk of Bias assessment revealed a moderate to low risk across all domains for the included studies. The mixed treatment comparison pooled estimates indicated that nicotine gum was significantly associated with the occurrence of aphthous ulcers [2.25 (1.03, 4.90)] and gastric reflux/vomiting [4.40 (1.51, 12.80)]. Additionally, the results showed that nasal spray significantly caused mouth/throat irritation [5.37 (1.03, 27.92)] and taste disturbance [4.87 (2.83, 8.37)] in comparison to tested NRT interventions.

Significant oral side effects are associated with NRT use, as demonstrated in this study. Dentists should implement tobacco cessation methods in their practices, including pharmacotherapy, to effectively monitor these patients. Continuous education and certification programs should be mandatory for dentists who want to practice tobacco cessation. This should also be included in the undergraduate dental curriculum to help dentists gain confidence in prescribing NRT. Standard evidence-based guidelines should be published to outline possible methods for encouraging tobacco cessation in dental settings.