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CancerQuest > Introduction to Patient Information > Side Effects of Cancer Treatments > Oral Health (Mouth) Problems

Oral Health (Mouth) Problems

Surgery or radiation treatment to the head and neck may cause problems with the mouth, teeth, gums, salivary glands, and/or jawbones. Some kinds of chemotherapy may cause dry mouth, cavities/other dental problems, loss of or change in sense of taste, oral infections, jaw stiffness, and jawbone changes. It is important to keep the mouth clean and moist to help limit the occurrence and/or severity of these side effects.^(1)(2)(3)

Treatments for oral inflammation (mucositis) include several different kinds of mouthwash/rinses (sterile water, saline, sodium bicarbonate and others.) Some of the mouthwashes can contain pain medications.  New agents being researched to prevent or treat mouth sores caused by cancer treatments fall into four categories: antimicrobial, coating, anti-inflammatory, and biological agents.  These treatments are designed to prevent or treat the inflammation.^(4)(5)(6)(7)

In severe cases, especially when the cancer being treated is located in the head/neck area, it may be necessary for patients to have a gastrostomy (G-tube) inserted to provide adequate nutrition.

Learn about gastrostomy (G-tubes).

References for this page:

1. Vissink A, Jansma J, Spijkervet FK, Burlage FR, Coppes RP. Oral sequelae of head and neck radiotherapy. Crit Rev Oral Biol Med. 2003;14(3):199-212. [PUBMED]
2. Sun HB, Gao XJ, Deng J, Li NY, Lu HJ. Progress of oral sequelae during head-neck radiotherapy. Chin J Dent Res. 2010;13(1):51-5. [PUBMED]
3. Djuric M, Cakic S, Hadzi-Mihailovic M, Petrovic D, Jankovic L. Oral status in patients receiving 5-fluorouracil for colorectal cancer. J BUON. 2010 Jul-Sep;15(3):475-9. [PUBMED]
4. Dodd MJ, Miaskowski C, Greenspan D, MacPhail L, Shih AS, Shiba G, Facione N, Paul SM. Radiation-induced mucositis: a randomized clinical trial of micronized sucralfate versus salt & soda mouthwashes. Cancer Invest. 2003;21(1):21-33. [PUBMED]
5. Clarkson JE, Worthington HV, Furness S, McCabe M, Khalid T, Meyer S. Interventions for treating oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2010 Aug 4;8:CD001973. [PUBMED]
6. Keefe DM, Sonis ST, Bowen JM. Emerging drugs for chemotherapy-induced mucositis. Expert Opin Emerg Drugs. 2008 Sep;13(3):511-22. [PUBMED]
7. Worthington HV, Clarkson JE, Eden OB. Interventions for preventing oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2007 Oct 17;(4):CD000978. [PUBMED]