Cancer News Information

One of the common side effects of cancer treatments is dry mouth, or xerostomia. The treatments for dry mouth are fairly easy to perform, but complications can arise if you're not careful. That's why it's important to speak with your doctor and your dentist before you start any regimens that involve the effects of your cancer and dental treatments from unverified sources.

So what dry mouth treatments can you do on your own?

• Keep hydrated. Drinking water is important to a healthy diet, but it also helps to loosen up your saliva, or any mucus in your mouth or throat.

• Puree your foods. Eating liquefied food might not seem terribly appealing, but it may be easier on your mouth and throat. Plus, it gets you the nutrients you need to get better. And if you want to know how to improve your oral health, you'll need to learn how to improve your overall health - and vice versa.

• Try an ice pop. Dry mouth treatments aren't all pureed carrots and mashed potatoes: an ice pop is a nice treat, and can soothe sore throats and dry mouths. Just make sure to choose sugarless ice pops, lest your dentist give you a lecture.

• Chew sugarless gum. When you chew gum, you stimulate salivary flow. Chewing gum is an easy (and inexpensive) way to eliminate the dry mouth effects of cancer and perform a healthy dental treatment at home.

• Suck on sugar-free candies, especially lemon or lime flavors. The candies stimulate salivary flow and the tartness of the lemon-lime increases saliva as well.

The best person to tell you how to improve your oral health is your dentist, and s/he may recommend different treatment methods that require a prescription or medical supervision. It's important to keep your oncologist and your dentist in the loop about what each doctor has advised.

The Side Effects of Cancer, and Your Dental Treatment Options

Undergoing treatments for cancer is stressful enough, so it's understandable that chemotherapy and dental care aren't necessarily the first things on your mind. But studies have proven that people with poor oral health often suffer with other maladies. Besides dry mouth treatments, your dentist may recommend you start keeping an eye on your mouth and jaw in general. Mouthy sores can be common in cancer patients, and can making eating painful. Since a diminished appetite is a side effect of cancer, you risk losing valuable vitamins and nutrients and a sore mouth or gums keeping you from eating. To minimize the discomfort, try:

• Avoiding salty, sweet or too-tart foods
• Brush your teeth gently every day
• Floss when possible
• Stick to softer foods
• Eat foods at room temperature
• Moisten dry foods to make them easier to swallow
• Consider fluoride treatments to help improve the health of your teeth

The most important thing to do is keep your dentist and your doctor abreast of any changes in your mouth, jaw or eating habits. Osteonecrosis is a rare but serious side effect of cancer, and there are dental treatments specifically tuned to handling this type of severe complication.

If you're concerned about your chemotherapy and your dental care, it's time to call your dentist. S/he can discuss your particular case with you, and offer suggestions for making your dental hygiene regimen more manageable. If you notice that your dry mouth treatments are no longer effective, you should call your oncologist immediately to rule out any additional complications. Together, you and your doctors can find a health plan that works for you.