Mouth problems - Side effect to cancer treatment

• Make an appoinment with your dentist so that you cab get an assesment of your teeth and oral mucosa
• Drink 1-1½ litres of fluid daily, avoiding soft and fizzy drinks and liquids containing sugar, which may damage the enamel on your teeth
• Maintain good mouth hygiene to prevent infections
• Rinse your mouth frequently with water or cold camomile tea
• Clean your teeth with a soft toothbrush after every meal. The brushes can by softened by holding them under hot water for 30 seconds
• After use, rinse the tootbrush under running water and leave it to dry with the bruches facing upwards
• The toothbrush must not be placed in a toothbrush case
• Change your tootbrush regularly
• Use dental floss or soft toothpicks daily, as they remove plaque and bacteria between the teeth. However, avoid dental floss and toothpicks if your gums are sore or bleed a lot
• Smoking can worsen mouth problems
• Alcohol may dry out your mucous membranes
• Breathe through your nose instead of your mouth to prevent the lips and oral mucosa from drying out
• If you have dentures, take them out at let the gums rest during the day. Clean your mouth dentures after every meal. Use toothpaste whitout abrasives or unscented soap. Rinse your mouth thoroughly before putting your dentures on again. Do not use your dentures whil sleeping. Dentures are stored in a dry cup

Reduced saliva production and a dry mouth can affect your appetite and sense of taste.

• Eating fresh pineapple, kiwi fruit, papaya, crushed ice, peppermints, lozenges and chewing sugarfree chewing gum will stimulate saliva production in between meals, and will help keep your mouth moist
• Wet your mouth frequently with for example tea with lemon, water or very thin porridge (consistency like soup)
• Eat soft, finely cut, chopped or liquid food, as it is easier to swallow, and provides moisture to the mucous membranes
• Acidic/sour food and drink stimulate the saliva production
• Drink a little fluid with every bite you eat, if your dry mouth makes eating uncomfortable
• Talk to the doctors and nurses about other products, which could help alleviate dryness in the mouth, e.g. lozenges, saliva substitutes/moisturizing mouth spray or gel

• In case of pain or small blisteres in the mouth, you can use mouthwash
• If you experience a lot of pain, or have cuts and scratches in your mouth or on your tongue or lips, you can benefit from using a local anesthetic gel applied directly on the cuts or scratches prior to eating. The painful areas should be wiped dry with a cotton bud, before you apply a generous amount of the gel. Leave for 1-2 minutes before rinsing the gel off. This should be done no more than 10 minutes prior to eating, as the effect otherwise will wear off
• If the soreness is very pronounced, you may benefit from using a straw with a bend when drinking. Put the straw as far into your mouth as you can, thus leading the fluid past the vulnerable mucous membranes and into the back of the mouth
• Chapped lips can be treated with unscented lip balm
• Cold camomile tea may ease discomfort
• Try eating soft, finely cut/chopped or liquid food, as it is easier to swallow
• Avoid very hot, spicy or smoked foods
• Avoid alcohol and fizzy drinks