Protecting 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 substitue to help moisten your mouth
Eat and drink with care		Choose soft, easy-to-chew foods Protect your motuh from spicy, sour, or cruchy 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 chwing tobacco have fewer mouth problems

 

When Should You Call Your Cancer Care Team About Mouth Problems?
Take a moment each day to check how your mouth looks and feels.  Call your cancer care team when you first notice a mouth problem on this list an old problem gets worse you notice any changes you're not sure about
Tips for Mouth Problems Sore Mouth, Sore Throat. To help keep your mouth clean, rinse often with 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda and 1/8 teaspoon of salt in 1 cup of warm water.  Follow with a plain water rinse.  Ask your cancer care team about medicines that can help with the pain. Dry Mouth. Rinse your mouth often with water, use sugar-free gum or candy, and talk to your dentist about saliva substitutes. Infections. Call your cancer care team right away if you see a sore, swelling, bleeding, or a sticky, white film in your mouth. Eating Problems. Your cancer care team can ehlp by giving you medicines to numb the pain from mouth sores and showing you how to choose foods that area easy to swallow. Bleeding. If your gums bleed or hurt, avoid flossing hte areas that are bleeding or sore, but keep flossing other teeth.  Soften the bristles of your toothbrush in warm water. Stiffness in Chewing Muscles. Three times a day, open and close your mouth as far as you can without pain.  Repeat 20 times. Vomiting. Rinse your mouth after vomiting with 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda in 1 cup of warm water. Cavities. Brush your teeth after meals and before bedtime.  Your dentist might have you put flouride on your teeth to help prevent cavities.
A Service of the National Institue of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institues of Health Toll Free 1-877-216-3019