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. SS is defined as primary SS when it progresses alone without any other rheumatic disease finding, while the definition of secondary SS is used in the presence of another accompanying autoimmune disease. One of the most disturbing symptoms of SS is hyposalivation, xerostomia and dysphagia due to 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. Studies have reported that 0.9% to 64.8% of patients with SS experience xerostomia and 32% to 72% of them experience dysphagia. It was planned as a randomized controlled study to examine its effect on dysphagia.

Inclusion Criteria:To be diagnosed as SS according to the 2002 American and European Consensus Group SS classification criteriaExperiencing xerostomia and dysphagiaBeing between the ages of 18-65Not using a total dentureNot having any other serious illness that will cause dry mouth and dysphagiaNot having difficulty in chewing and tongue, lip, jaw movementHave been receiving treatment for SS for at least 3 monthsTo be able to continue working physically and mentallyExclusion Criteria:Not wanting to participate in the studyWanting to leave work voluntarily