Dental and oral care is very important before, during and after treatment for cancer. Dental and oral complications from blood cancer treatment can be acute (during treatment) and/or delayed (months to years after treatment).
Common dental and oral complications from cancer treatment include:
- Oral mucositis (ulcers and sore/inflamed lining in the mouth)
- Infection, including viral and fungal
- Fever from mouth infection
- Taste alteration
- Dry mouth
- Mouth pain
- Tooth decay
It is always a good idea to visit a dentist before starting treatment. It is particularly important if you already have problems with your teeth.
Dental check/clearance before treatment:
- Provides the dentist with information on your treatment and diagnosis.
- Records original appearance, condition and structure of your teeth.
- Allows for a thorough dental exam and cleaning.
- Allows for removal or treatment of any dental problems or possible future problems. (Removal and/or major treatment of teeth needs to be at least 7 days before chemotherapy or as per instruction from your treatment team).
- Provides dental education and the importance of oral hygiene.
Things to consider during and after treatment:
- Regular dental checks, at least every 6 months or as advised by your dentist.
- Ensure good dental hygiene to keep your mouth clean.
- Use a soft toothbrush to brush your teeth, gums and tongue at least twice a day.
- Use a mild toothpaste.
- Use an alcohol-free mouthwash after eating. Use a solution of ¼ teaspoon bicarbonate of soda or ¼ teaspoon salt in 1 cup of warm water.
- Gently floss your teeth every day, be extra gentle on any areas that bleed or are sore.
- If you have dentures/protheses/plates get them checked to make sure they fit well. Remove them to clean, brush, and rinse them and your mouth after meals.
- Use a saliva substitute product if needed for dry mouth.
- Suck on ice chips to help with oral mucositis and dry mouth.
- Chew sugarless gum or suck on sugar-free lozenges, this can help with dry mouth and loss of taste.
- Avoid elective treatments like teeth whitening and veneers.
- See the dentist immediately if any problems arise.
- Avoid extractions if possible – they can cause problems. If they are required, a plan between your dentist and treatment team will need to be strictly adhered to.
- Use a lip balm with animal or plant-based oils to prevent dry/cracked lips.
If you have oral mucositis there are some things you should avoid to prevent further damage:
- Foods that can damage the lining of your mouth (hard/rough textured and hot/spicy/acidic foods).
- Sugary foods, like lollies or cordial.
- Toothpicks or sharp utensils.
- Smoking, other oral nicotine products, and alcohol.
More information
- Managing Side Effects | Dental and Oral Complications | LLS
- 3099-Mouth and throat problems during cancer treatment | eviQ
- Who Needs Dental Clearance? (Dr Ansgar Cheng) (youtube.com)
References
- Cancer Therapies and Dental Considerations | American Dental Association (ada.org)
- Facing Forward: Life After Cancer Treatment
- Gaps in Access to Medically Necessary Dental Care for Patients Living With and Beyond Cancer: We Must Do Better | Journal of Clinical Oncology (ascopubs.org)
- Oral complications of cancer and cancer therapy – Epstein – 2012 – CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians – Wiley Online Library
- Oral Complications and Management Strategies for Cancer Patients: Principles of Supportive Oncology in Dentistry – PubMed (nih.gov)
- 210-Oral mucositis and stomatitis | eviQ
- The intersection of oncology and oral health: exploring nurses’ insights and practices — a systematic review – PMC (nih.gov)
