CANCER'S DRY MOUTH

Your doctor and nurse may have told you one of the side effects of your cancer treatment is a dry mouth.  But when this hits it affects almost all of your life.  The mouth and digestive tract is made up of fast growing cells.  Most chemotherapy drugs work by killing or injuring fast growing cells because cancer cells are these types of cells. Most cancer drugs can’t tell the difference between types of fast growing cells.  So your mouth may be sore and dry.

Brushing your teeth with a soft toothbrush, a child’s or baby’s toothbrush is best.  Even with a sore mouth keeping it clean is very important.  Infection and or cavities are not what you want ever, especially not now.  Here are some hints for keeping your mouth clean and, by the way, these will help lessen the pain too.  If a toothbrush is too painful, for awhile, ask for Toothettes.  These are soft sponges on a stick used for oral care in the hospital.

Rinse and spit at least 6 times a day with a non-alcohol mouth wash.

Alcohol will burn like fire in your mouth.  There are products on the market which will moisturize your mouth as they clean.  The most popular one I know is Biatene.  They have several products available to help moisturize the mouth; gum and artificial saliva are two of them.  I recommend and solution of salt and baking soda.  Please wait for the recipe!  Many people mix up salt water solutions but if the strength is too potent these will not only burn your mouth but they will injure the tissue in your mouth.  So the correct recipe is:

                   One (1) quart of water

                   One (1) teaspoon of salt

                   One (1) teaspoon of baking soda.

Be sure to rinse and then spit out this solution, don’t swallow this or any other mouthwash.

This is very inexpensive and should be thrown out each day and then mix new day’s solution in a clean container.  This solution will soothe your mouth as well as reduce your chances of infections, such as thrush.

This mixture will help keep your mouth at the correct PH level to keep bacteria at low levels.  At the same time it will restore fluids to the mouth tissue. 

I knew one man who carried a bottle of this solution with him at all times, yes even at work, and he did very well with only slight problems in his mouth.  You can take a water bottle with you anywhere; why not add a mouthwash bottle.  You will be able to find a restroom easy enough, to rinse and spit every couple hours.  This is safe enough to use as often as you want.

It is good to rinse your mouth before you eat as this will moisten your mouth and it will be easier to chew and swallow.  Many people have told me that when they use a mouth wash they do pretty good.

For some this will help but not be enough to get you by.  If this is the case, ask your doctor for help, doctors usually prescribe something called Magic Mouth Wash.  It has 3 ingredients in it that will temporarily numb your mouth and will also help aid in healing your mouth and throat.  This must be used as your doctor prescribes.  You may use the salt and soda or Biatene mouth wash between times you use the prescribed mouthwash.

Papaya is a fruit that contains digestive enzymes.  Many people have found eating small bites of papaya before and during their meals makes chewing easier.  Including wet foods in your diet is a good idea; such as; mashed potatoes and gravy, soft scrambled or poached eggs and puddings.

I recommend you talk to a cancer dietitian at your cancer center or hospital. These dietitians are wonderfully helpful.

There are drugs available that promote increased saliva you may want to talk to your oncologist about these drugs.  Be certain to ask about side effects of these drugs.

Wishing you lots of spit.

God Bless you and keep you.