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Are You Being Treated
With Chemotherapy for Cancer?
While chemotherapy helps treat cancer, it
can also cause other things to happen in your body called side
effects. Some of these problems affect the mouth and could cause you
to delay or stop treatment.
To help prevent serious problems, see a dentist at least 2 weeks
before starting chemotherapy.
A dentist can help prevent mouth problems.
How Does
Chemotherapy Affect the Mouth?
Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to treat cancer. These drugs kill
cancer cells, but they may also harm normal cells, including cells in
the mouth. Side effects include problems with your teeth and gums; the
soft, moist lining of your mouth; and the glands that make saliva
(spit).
It's important to know that side effects in the mouth can be serious.
The side effects can hurt and make it hard to eat, talk, and swallow.
You are more likely to get an infection, which can be dangerous when
you are receiving cancer treatment.
If the side effects are bad, you may not be able to keep up with your
cancer treatment. Your doctor may need to cut back on your cancer
treatment or may even stop it.
What Mouth Problems Does Chemotherapy Cause?
You may have certain side effects in your
mouth from chemotherapy. Another person may have different problems.
The problems depend on the chemotherapy drugs and how your body
reacts to them. You may have these problems only during treatment or
for a short time after treatment ends.
-Painful mouth and gums.
-Dry mouth.
-Burning, peeling, or swelling tongue.
-Infection.
-Change in taste.
You can see or feel most of these
problems. Check your mouth every day.
Why Should I See a
Dentist?
You may be surprised that your dentist is important in your cancer
treatment. If you go to the dentist before chemotherapy begins, you
can help prevent serious mouth problems. Side effects often happen
because a person's mouth is not healthy before chemotherapy starts.
Not all mouth problems can be avoided but the fewer side effects you
have, the more likely you will stay on your cancer treatment
schedule.
It's important for your dentist and cancer doctor to talk to each
other about your cancer treatment. Be sure to give your dentist your
cancer doctor's phone number.
When Should I
See a Dentist?
You need to see the dentist at least 2 weeks before chemotherapy
begins. If you have already started chemotherapy and didn't go to a
dentist, see one as soon as possible.
What Will the Dentist and Dental Hygienist
Do?
-Check your teeth.
-Take x-rays.
-Take care of mouth problems.
-Show you how to take care of your mouth to prevent side effects.
-The dentist will do a complete exam.
What Can I Do To
Keep My Mouth Healthy?
You can do a lot to keep your mouth healthy during chemotherapy. The
first step is to see a dentist before you start cancer treatment.
once your treatment starts, it's important to look in your mouth
every day for sores or other changes. These tips can help prevent and
treat a sore mouth:
-Keep your mouth moist.
-Drink a lot of water.
-Suck ice chips.
-Use sugarless gum or sugar-free hard candy.
-Use a saliva substitute to help moisten your mouth.
-Clean your mouth, tongue, and gums.
Brush your teeth, gums, and tongue with an extra-soft toothbrush after
every meal and at bedtime. If brushing hurts, soften the bristles in
warm water.
-Use a fluoride toothpaste.
-Don't use mouthwashes with alcohol in them.
Floss your teeth gently every day. If your gums bleed and hurt, avoid
the areas that are bleeding or sore, but keep flossing your other
teeth.
Rinse your mouth several times a day with a solution of 1/4 teaspoon
baking soda and 1/8 teaspoon salt in one cup of warm water. Follow
with a plain water rinse.
Dentures that don't fit well can cause problems. Talk to your cancer
doctor or dentist about your dentures.
If Your Mouth Is Sore, Watch What You Eat and Drink.
Choose foods that are good for you and easy to chew and swallow.
Take small bites of food, chew slowly, and sip liquids with your
meals.
Eat soft, moist foods such as cooked cereals, mashed potatoes, and
scrambled eggs.
If you have trouble swallowing, soften your food with gravy, sauces,
broth, yogurt, or other liquids.
Sipping liquids with your meals will make eating easier.
Call Your Doctor or Nurse When Your Mouth Hurts.
Work with them to find medicines to help control the pain.
If the pain continues, talk to your cancer doctor about stronger
medicines.
Remember To Stay
Away From
Sharp, crunchy foods, like taco chips, that could scrape or cut your
mouth.
Foods that are hot, spicy, or high in acid, like citrus fruits and
juices, which can irritate your mouth.
Sugary foods, like candy or soda, that could cause cavities.
Toothpicks, because they can cut your mouth.
All tobacco products.
Alcoholic drinks.
Do Children Get Mouth Problems Too?
Chemotherapy causes other side effects in children, depending on the
child's age.
Problems with teeth are the most common. Permanent teeth may be slow
to come in and may look different from normal teeth. Teeth may fall
out. The dentist will check your child's jaws for any growth problems.
Before chemotherapy begins, take your child to a dentist. The dentist
will check your child's mouth carefully and pull loose teeth or those
that may become loose during treatment. Ask the dentist or hygienist
what you can do to help your child with mouth care.
Your child has special dental needs.
Remember:
Visit your dentist before your cancer treatment starts.
Take good care of your mouth during treatment.
Talk regularly with your cancer doctor and dentist about any mouth
problems you have.
Call your cancer doctor or dentist if you
have any mouth problems.
Oral Health, Cancer Care, and You is an awareness campaign sponsored
by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)
through its National Oral Health Information Clearinghouse (NOHIC).
This campaign is being conducted in partnership with the National
Cancer Institute, the National Institute of Nursing Research, the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Friends of the
NIDCR.
National Oral Health
Information Clearinghouse
Attn: OCCT
1 NOHIC Way
Bethesda, MD 20892-3500
Fax: 301-907-8830
E-mail:
nohic@nidcr.nih.gov
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