Will Cancer Treatments Affect Your Teeth and Gums?
[M.D.S. (Ortho), Fellow ICOI]
Nowadays, you have many advanced solutions like chemotherapy, radiation treatments to control cancer. Whether the solution is neutralizing cancerous cells with drugs (chemotherapy) or using a high dose of radiation to kill the tumorous cells (radiation therapy) or others, it will cause side effects like sleep problems, fatigue, appetite loss, etc. Likewise, dental health also will encounter a hit.
Certain dental problems happen due to the treatment directly or indirectly. In this post, our dentists have highlighted the impact of cancer treatments on oral health.
How do cancer treatments affect your oral cavity?
Oral complications are common in people who are suffering from cancer and who are taking cancer treatments. Such dental problems arise during cancer treatments due to several reasons. The most possible causes include:
High dosage of radiation is powerful to damage the nerves, bone, salivary glands, and other soft tissues in the mouth. It is linked to problems like loose teeth, dry mouth, cavities, etc.
As the cancer treatment tends to kill the problematic cells and prevent the growth of new tumorous cells, it might affect some healthy cells also. Thus the therapeutic procedures hurt cells in the oral lining of a cancer patient’s mouth and affect the production of new cells. In such cases, the damaged oral tissues cannot repair themselves.
In most cases, the cancer treatments kill good, healthy bacteria that tend to kill harmful oral microbes. It disturbs the microbiome balance and is followed by provoking the oral bacteria to cause various dental complications.
How severely do cancer treatments affect teeth and gums?
Several studies show that the complexity of oral difficulties that arise during cancer treatment varies depending on
- Complications of the cancer treatment a person is taking
- Dosage of medications he /she is taking
For instance, people having radiation therapy to treat throat cancer allow the soft tissues exposed to a high dose of radiation. In such cases, the bones and tissues become weak when compared to people who are getting radiation therapy to kill cancer cells in other parts.
Similarly, if a patient has any existing oral problems before the cancer treatment begins, it will also become worsen during cancer treatment. Moreover, we have noticed some oral complications from cancer treatment are acute (short-term) whilst some are chronic (long-term).
What are the possible dental side effects of cancer treatments?
- Tooth decay
- Gum diseases
- Dry mouth
- Taste changes
- Pain or Soreness in teeth and gums
- Mouth and Jaw stiffness
- Difficulty in swallowing
- Inflamed mucous membranes in the mouth
Kids who receive cancer treatments have premature tooth loss and encounter various problems in permanent teeth development, jaw bone development.
What should you do to avoid oral complications during cancer treatment?
Proper oral hygiene is crucial while taking cancer treatments. If you have any dental problems, please fix them immediately before taking cancer treatment. As discussed earlier, certain cancer treatments cause damage to the oral tissues.
On the other hand, some cancer treatments will decrease the number of white blood cells and weaken the immune system. They would cause a delay in healing. Hence it is better to get dental consultations at regular intervals while taking cancer treatments. Similarly, it is crucial to maintain a good oral care routine as follows:
- Use fluoridated toothpaste
- Use a soft-bristled toothbrush. Rinse it in hot water every 20 seconds to soften the bristles.
- Do mouth rinse with salt water daily
- Drink more water to keep yourselves hydrated.
- Maintain a healthy diet.
Note: If you feel your toothbrush is irritating, brush your teeth with a saltwater solution prepared by adding 1 /4 teaspoon salt to a cup of water.
Do you need more guidance and tips to avert oral complications during cancer treatment? Contact our Lakshme Dental Hospital here. We are ready to help.
