Mucositis (mouth sores) and mouth pain are common physical problems for chemotherapy and radiation patients. Chemotherapy and radiation cause inflammation of the tongue, lips, mouth, throat, and gastrointestinal tract. Saliva usually becomes thicker and more mucouslike. Mouth sores or bleeding in the mouth may occur also. The experience can vary from mild discomfort to severe pain which makes eating, drinking, and sleeping difficult.
Cancer therapy temporarily reduces your ability to fight infection. The inflamed mouth is a possible site of infection. Swelling may make it hard to swallow. If swelling is severe, it may become hard to breathe.
Your cancer care team should include a dentist for several reasons:
- Your cancer treatment may be easier if you work with your dentist and hygienist. Make sure you have a pretreatment dental checkup.
- A dentist will help protect your mouth, teeth, and jaw bones from damage caused by radiation and chemotherapy.
- Doctors may have to delay or stop your cancer treatment because of problems in your mouth.
Your goals
- Prevent infection.
- Control pain.
- Maintain nutrition and fluid intake.
- Call for professional help when needed.
Urgent signs and symptoms - Call clinic or hospital operator NOW
- Difficult breathing
- Unable to swallow
- Choking
- Bright red blood in the mouth
- Pain medication doesn't work
Important signs and symptoms to report to your doctor or nurse
- White patches or sores that appear on gums or mouth
- Difficulty eating or drinking
- Increased sensitivity to foods
- Significant mouth dryness
What you can do at home
- Control pain.
- Take pain medication as instructed. Tell the doctor or nurse if the pain medicine does not seem to be controlling the pain.
- Place ice bags on painful areas such as cheeks, lips, or throat for 10-15 minutes every 2 hours.
- For chapped lips, apply lanolin creams, Chapstick, Blistex, or other lip balms which contain lanolin.
- Use these tips for mouth problems:
- Sore mouth, sore throat
To help keep your mouth clean, rinse often with 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda and 1/8 teaspoon of salt in one cup of warm water. Follow with a plain water rinse. Ask your cancer care team about medicines that can help with the pain.
- Dry mouth
Rinse your mouth often with water, use sugar-free gum or candy, and talk to your dentist about saliva substitutes. Avoid alcohol- or peroxide-based mouthwashes; they can dry your mouth.
- Infections
Call your cancer care team right away if you see sores, swelling, bleeding, or sticky, white film in your mouth.
- Eating problems
Your cancer care team can help by giving you medicines to numb the pain from mouth sores and by suggesting foods that are easy to swallow.
- Bleeding
If your gums bleed or hurt, avoid flossing the areas that are bleeding or sore, but keep flossing other teeth. Soften the bristles of your toothbrush in warm water.
- Stiffness in chewing muscles
Open and close your mouth as far as you can without pain 20 times. Repeat three times daily.
- Vomiting
Rinse your mouth after vomiting with 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda in one cup of warm water.
- Mouth care
Brush your teeth after meals and before bedtime. Your dentist might have you put fluoride on your teeth to help prevent cavities. Floss gently at least once a day.
- Maintain nutrition and fluid intake.
- Drink warm fluids like chicken noodle soup, chicken broth, tea, or cool fluids like popsicles, slushies, sports drinks, and Kool-Aid.
- Choose lukewarm or cool foods and drinks instead of hot or icy cold.
- Avoid spicy, sour, or crunchy foods.
- Avoid alcoholic drinks.
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