Mouth Care with Cancer Treatment
Cancer treatments can damage cells in the mouth. This may cause problems
with teeth and gums, the lining of the mouth, and the glands that make
saliva. See a dentist 2 weeks before starting cancer treatment.
Problems may include:
• Soreness in the mouth
• Sores like cold or canker sores
• Burning, peeling, dry mouth and swelling of the tongue
• A risk of infection
• Trouble with eating, drinking, swallowing, talking or sleeping.
To reduce discomfort:
• Check your mouth each day.
─ Call your doctor or nurse if you see redness, swelling, open areas,
bleeding or white patches.
• Keep your mouth clean.
─ Brush your teeth or dentures after meals and before bedtime.
─ Use an extra soft toothbrush with toothpaste.
─ If your mouth is too sore to use a soft toothbrush, use gauze or sponge
toothettes soaked in salt water to clean your teeth.
• Floss your teeth gently each day.
─ Use unwaxed dental floss.
─ Do not floss areas that are sore or bleeding.
• Use a mouthwash after meals and at bedtime.
─ Buy a mouthwash that does not have alcohol or mix one cup of warm
water with two pinches (¼ teaspoon) of baking soda and one pinch
(1/8 teaspoon) of salt.
─ Follow with a plain water rinse.
• Keep your mouth moist.
─ Drink 8-12 glasses of liquids each day.
─ Apply lip balm to avoid cracked lips.
─ Suck on ice chips.
─ Chew gum or use hard candy.
─ Talk to your doctor if your mouth is very dry.
• Remove and clean dentures each time you brush your teeth.