Medical Informative Booklets
Chemotherapy / Radiotherapy
Important advise before you start chemotherapy or "ENT" radiotherapy
Problems caused by chemotherapy and radiotherapy may vary and depend on each person.
Such problems may occur during the treatment or shortly after the end of it:
- sensitive gums and a dry mouth (xerostomia),
- a taste change,
- pain, swelling and smarting sensation of the tongue and the mucous membrane and even ulcers (= mucositis),
- infection.
It is essential for the patient to have his mouth and teeth checked before the beginning of the anti-cancer treatment. The patient has to become aware of this in order to cooperate.
Why does the patient have to see his dentist ?
It is important that the patient's mouth and teeth are in good health before the beginning of the anti-cancer treatment, because this will avoid a lot of problems.
Your dentist's role is to :
- check your teeth,
- take X-rays,
- treat those teeth that might injure you or become infected,
- scale and treat gums, if necessary,
- tell the patient which precautions he has to take.
How to keep your mouth healthy during the treatment
- check the state of your mouth everyday,
- keep your mouth humid by drinking a lot of water, sucking ice cubes, chewing sugar free gum, and, if necessary, using artificial saliva
- brush and clean your teeth, your tongue and your gums,
- use an extra soft toothbrush, a toothpaste containing fluorine and avoid areas that bleed
- rinse your mouth with mouthwashes several times a day : add ¼ teaspoon of sodium bicarbonate and 1/8 teaspoon of salt to a big glass of tepid water or use a mouthwash your doctor prescribed you,
- avoid painful or irritating dentures - disinfect them regularly.
If your mouth starts to be sensitive, you have to be careful with what you eat.
You have to choose food that is easy to chew and to swallow. Take small quantities at a time, chew slowly and drink at the same time. Do not hesitate to call the doctor and the nurse if your mouth hurts. They will offer you a suitable drug.
Be careful, you have to stop :
- eating food that may injure your mouth (ex: crisps, tacos),
- eating spicy or very sour food,
- eating sweets that may cause caries,
- drinking alcohol,
- smoking.
Booklet published by "the Friends of the Bordet Institute"
+32 2 541 31 11