oralfitnesslibrary Oral and Overall Health Cancer Why You Should See Your Dentist Before Cancer Treatment

Why You Should See Your Dentist Before Cancer Treatment

You’ll want to learn how to protect your mouth, and what issues warrant a call to your cancer team.

Reason #1:To feel better

Your cancer treatment may be easier if you work with your dentist and hygienist. Make sure you have a pretreatment dental checkup.

Reason #2: To save your teeth and bones
A dentist will help protect your mouth, teeth, and jaw bones from damage caused by radiation and chemotherapy. Children also need special protection for their growing teeth and facial bones.

Reason #3: To fight cancer
Doctors may have to delay or stop your cancer treatment because of problems in your mouth. To fight cancer best, your cancer care team should include a dentist.

How to protect your mouth during cancer treatment

Brush gently, brush often

  • Brush your teeth — and your tongue — gently with an extra-soft toothbrush.
  • If your mouth is very sore, soften the bristles in warm water.
  • Brush after every meal and at bedtime.

Floss gently daily

  • Floss once a day to remove plaque.
  • If your gums bleed and hurt, avoid the areas that are bleeding or sore, but keep flossing your other teeth.
  • Rinse often with water.
  • Keep your mouth moist

Don't use mouthwashes with alcohol in them.

  • Use a saliva substitute to help moisten your mouth.
  • Choose soft, easy-to-chew foods.

Eat and drink with care

  • Protect your mouth from spicy, sour, or crunchy foods.
  • Avoid alcoholic drink.
  • Choose lukewarm foods and drinks instead of hot or icy-cold.

When should you call your cancer care team about mouth problems?
Take a moment each day to check how your mouth looks and feels.

Call your cancer care team when:

  • You first notice a mouth problem
  • And old problem gets worse
  • You notice any changes you’re not sure about

Tips for relieving common 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 1 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, choose sugar-free gum or candy, and talk to your dentist about saliva substitutes.

Infections: Call your cancer care team right away if you see a sore, swelling, bleeding, or a 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 showing you how to choose 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: Three times a day, open and close your mouth as far as you can without pain. Repeat 20 times.

Vomiting: Rinse your mouth after vomiting with 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda in 1 cup of warm water.

Cavities: Brush your teeth after meals and before bedtime. Your dentist might have you put fluoride on your teeth to help prevent cavities.