Being diagnosed with cancer is arguably one of life’s most traumatic
events. You will be given a lot of information about your treatment
options so it’s understandable that the first thing you think of will
not be how your mouth and teeth will be affected.
But it’s important that you speak to your dentist about your diagnosis.
Your dentist can assess the health of your teeth and mouth in the
context of proposed cancer treatment(s) and determine if any dental
work, by themselves or a specialist, is needed before you commence your
treatment.
Chemotherapy and radiation treatment can have oral side effects, which
may be temporary or long-term, such as soreness and ulcers in the mouth,
gum infections, bleeding gums, dry mouth and altered taste and your
dentist is best placed to advise on how to treat them. Patients at the
highest risk of oral complications include those receiving radiation to
the head and neck region, those who require bone marrow transplants, or
patients receiving specific chemotherapy agents.
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Oral health side effects
One main oral side effect you may notice is xerostomia, more commonly
known as dry mouth. This condition is the result of damage to your
salivary glands caused by chemotherapy or radiation therapy treatments,
and adverse effects from medicines.
You’ll find that your saliva is less abundant and thicker, and less able
to neutralise the acids produced by dental plaque, which puts you at
increased risk of tooth decay. You may also find you suffer from more
sores and mouth infections, such as oral thrush.
A dry mouth may also make it difficult to wear dentures. Your dentist
will be able to suggest a moisturiser or adhesive to help your denture
stay in place.
Managing dry mouth
The good news is that you may be able to relieve the symptoms of dry
mouth. You should consult your dentist prior to commencing treatment to
determine which dental products, such as saliva substitutes,
mouth-rinses to fight infection and products that stimulate the salivary
glands, will work best for you.
Once your treatment is completed your dentist may recommend that you use
specific fluoride rinses and gels, high concentrated fluoride
toothpastes, and other products designed to help you lower the risk of
tooth decay.
After treatment
Oral side effects such as dry mouth usually clear up after treatment although this may not be the case if you’ve had radiation treatment for head and neck cancers. Symptoms may persist into the long-term however, especially if your treatment was directed at the salivary glands, in which case you should see your dentist more regularly than usual, possibly as frequently as every 3 months.
– Australian Dental Association’s “Cancer Treatment and Oral Health”
