Dental examination before cancer treatment
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor in Chief: Berna Zorkun DMD [2]
Three Good Reasons to have a Dental Examination before any Cancer Treatment
- Feel better: Your cancer treatment may be easier if you work with your dentist and hygienist. Make sure you have a pretreatment dental checkup.
- Save teeth and bones: A dentist will help protect your mouth, teeth, and jaw bones from damage caused by radiation and chemotherapy. Children also need special protection for their growing teeth and facial bones.
- Fight cancer: Doctors may have to delay or stop your cancer treatment because of problems in your mouth. To fight cancer best, your cancer care team should include a dentist.
Protect Your Mouth During Cancer Treatment
- Brush gently & brush often
- Brush your teeth--and your tongue--gently with an extra-soft toothbrush.
- If your mouth is very sore, soften the bristles in warm water.
- Brush after every meal and at bedtime
- Floss gently & do it daily
- Floss once a day to remove plaque.
- If your gums bleed and hurt, avoid the areas that are bleeding or sore, but keep flossing your other teeth.
- Keep your mouth moist
- Rinse often with water.
- Don’t use mouthwashes with alcohol in them.
- Use a saliva substitute to help moisten your mouth.
- Eat and drink with care
- Choose soft, easy-to-chew foods.
- Protect your mouth from spicy, sour, or crunchy foods.
- Choose lukewarm foods and drinks instead of hot or icy-cold.
- Avoid alcoholic drinks.
- Keep trying (Quit using tobacco)
- Ask your cancer care team to help you stop smoking or chewing tobacco.
- People who quit smoking or chewing tobacco have fewer mouth problems.
Source