Chemotherapy and Your Teeth

Chemotherapy and Your Teeth

If you, or someone you know, has been diagnosed with oral cancer or any other type of cancer, you know that there are many concerns. When a person is diagnosed with cancer, not only do they worry about their cancer treatment, but likely a person has many other health concerns beyond his/her cancer.

It’s likely things such as dental care, fixing cavities, and eye care could top the list. Chemotherapy and your teeth are a valid concern. If you are asking “can having cancer affect your teeth,” Lincoln Family Dentistry has skilled, compassionate dentists right here in Lincoln, NE willing and ready to help you find the answer. In our article we’ll cover:

Chemotherapy can indeed affect your teeth, dental health, and the condition of your smile. Radiation therapy and other chemotherapy drugs are able to harm the tissues that line your throat, lips, and inside of your mouth. It is possible that you will develop small sores inside your mouth, like canker sores or cold sores. This irritation taking place inside your mouth is called “Mucositis” or “Stomatitis.” It will take time for those mouth sores to heal.

Remember that it is important to let your dentist in Lincoln, NE for cancer patients know if you notice any changes. Especially those taking place inside your mouth. While total prevention of this side effect is not always possible, there are certain steps that you can take to help reduce the effects of chemotherapy and your teeth as well as irritation, bleeding, infection, and discomfort.

Chemotherapy and Your Teeth, Helping Relieve Dry Mouth

Mouthwash is inevitably good for your dental hygiene. However, when it comes to chemotherapy and your teeth, mouth washes that contain alcohol can cause serious dryness and stinging. A better option would be to consider using Biotene™, which is an alcohol-free mouthwash. If you wish, you can even make your own mouthwash. There are three different ways:

• 1/4 tsp of table salt in 1 cup (8 oz.) of water
• 1 tsp of baking soda in 1 cup (8 oz.) of water
• 1/4 tsp of salt and 1/4 tsp of baking soda in 1 cup (8 oz.) of warm water

If you choose to make your own mouthwash, make a new one each day and shake it well before using it.

If you are experiencing severe dryness, it will help enormously to drink many glasses of water or other liquids throughout the day.  When you are traveling away from home, always take a water bottle with you.  It may even help to suck on sugar-free hard candy or chew some sugarless gum.  Finally, do not hesitate to ask your dentist for cancer patients in Lincoln, NE about artificial saliva to keep your mouth moist.  Dry mouth is a common way that chemotherapy affects your mouth.

When you are drinking anything, try to use a straw.  This way, liquids are able to bypass the sores or other tender places in your mouth.  Also, it is a good idea to help your lips retain moisture.  It is ok to use lip moisturizers that have an oil base, like Chapstick® or Vaseline®, if you do not have any open areas on your lips.  If you do have open areas on your lips, you can use moisturizers known to be water soluble, such as  K-Y Jelly® or Surgilube®.

Chemotherapy and Your Teeth, Managing Medications with the help of your Dentist for Cancer Patients in Lincoln, NE

Your dentist near me in Lincoln, NE may choose to give you a prescription to numb your throat or mouth. These medicines can come in several different forms. They could be liquids or lozenges, or even sprays. You and your dentist may discuss taking medicine to help ease any discomfort you might be experiencing; make sure that you take this prescription 1-2 hours before eating meals. If this does not seem to be reducing the discomfort, try taking your medicine regularly throughout the day. Likely your dentist might strongly recommend timing the medications every 4-6 hours. And, be sure to call your doctor if the discomfort is not lessening.

Your dentist for cancer patients in Lincoln, NE may also prescribe an antibiotic to treat or prevent infection inside the mouth.  These can be made in various forms. Some antibiotics are given in liquid form, and these are swished inside the mouth and throat. Others are applied right on the throat and mouth. Antibiotics can also be taken in pill form, swallowed by mouth.

Always, always take your medicine exactly as prescribed by your dentist. If you are experiencing changes, but are unsure if it is a side effect, read the Dental and Oral Health article from the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Ultimately, if you are experiencing changes and are unsure about what it may be and how to treat it, seek a professional opinion from your Lincoln, NE dentist for cancer patients in Lincoln, NE.

Finally, if any sort of bleeding becomes evident in the mouth, dip some gauze in ice water and apply pressure to the area. You can stop continuous bleeding by rinsing your throat and mouth with ice water.

If you are undergoing treatment for cancer, know that your dentist for cancer patients in Lincoln, NE is willing to address chemotherapy and your teeth. He or she can also address the health of your mouth as a whole and guide you in maintaining your overall well-being. They offer affordable dental services to make sure you can maintain your oral health. Your comfort and dental health are our top priority.

If you are looking for more answers or education, April, Oral Cancer Awareness Month, is also a great time to learn about cancer and its effects on the mouth. Our Lincoln dentists are here to help!