Cancer News

Routine Oral Care

Continuing good dental hygiene during and after cancer treatment can reduce complications such as cavities, mouth sores, and infections. It is important to clean the mouth after eating. The following are guidelines for everyday oral care during chemotherapy and radiation therapy:

Tooth brushing

• Brush teeth and gums with a soft bristle brush 2 to 3 times a day for 2 to 3 minutes.

• Rinse the toothbrush in hot water every 15 to 30 seconds to soften the bristles, if needed.

• If it is necessary to use a foam toothbrush, use it with an antibacterial rinse, when possible.

• Allow the toothbrush to air dry between brushings.

• Choose toothpaste with care:
  • Use a mild-tasting toothpaste; flavoring may irritate the mouth.
  • If toothpaste irritates the mouth, brush with a solution of 1 teaspoon of salt added to 4 cups (1 quart) of water.
  • Use a fluoride toothpaste.

Rinsing

• Rinse the mouth 3 or 4 times while brushing.
• Avoid rinses containing alcohol.
• One of the following rinses made with salt and/or baking soda may be used:
  • 1 teaspoon of salt in 4 cups of water.
  • 1 teaspoon of baking soda in 1 cup (8 ounces) of water.
  • ½ teaspoon salt and 2 tablespoons baking soda in 4 cups of water.
• An antibacterial rinse may be used 2 to 4 times a day for gum disease. Rinse for 1 to 2 minutes.
• If dry mouth occurs, rinsing may not be enough to clean the teeth after a meal. Brushing and flossing may be needed.

Flossing

• Floss gently once a day.

Lip care

• Use lip care products to prevent drying and cracking.

Oral Mucositis

Mucositis is an inflammation of mucous membranes in the mouth.

The terms “oral mucositis” and “stomatitis” are often used in place of each other, but their meanings are different.

• Mucositis is an inflammation of mucous membranes in the mouth. It usually appears as red, burn-like sores or as ulcer -like sores throughout the mouth.

• Stomatitis is an inflammation of tissues in the mouth, such as the gums, tongue, roof and floor of the mouth, and tissues inside the lips and cheeks. It includes infections of mucous membranes.

Mucositis may be caused by either radiation therapy or chemotherapy. In patients receiving chemotherapy, mucositis will heal by itself, usually in 2 to 4 weeks when there is no infection. Mucositis caused by radiation therapy usually lasts 6 to 8 weeks, depending on the duration of treatment.

The following problems may occur:

• Pain.
• Infection.
• Bleeding, in patients receiving chemotherapy. Patients undergoing radiation therapy usually do not have a bleeding risk.
• Inability to breathe and eat normally.

Swishing ice chips in the mouth for 30 minutes may help prevent mucositis from developing in patients who are given fluorouracil. Medication may be given to help prevent mucositis or keep it from lasting as long in patients who undergo high-dose chemotherapy and bone marrow transplant.

Care of mucositis during chemotherapy and radiation therapy focuses on cleaning the mouth and relieving the symptoms.

Treatment of mucositis caused by either radiation therapy or chemotherapy is generally the same. After mucositis has developed, proper treatment depends on its severity and the patient’s white blood cell count. The following are guidelines for treating mucositis during chemotherapy, stem cell transplantation, and radiation therapy:

Cleaning the mouth

• Clean the teeth and mouth every 4 hours and at bedtime, more often if the mucositis becomes worse.

• Use a soft bristle toothbrush.

• Replace the toothbrush often.

• Use water-soluble lubricating jelly to moisturize the mouth.

• Use bland rinses or plain sterile water. Frequent rinsing removes particles and bacteria from the mouth, prevents crusting of sores, and moistens and soothes sore gums and the lining of the mouth. The following rinse may be used to neutralize acid and dissolve thick saliva:
  • ½ teaspoon salt and 2 tablespoons baking soda in 4 cups of water.

• If crusting of sores occurs, the following rinse may be used:
  • Equal parts hydrogen peroxide and water or saltwater (1 teaspoon of salt in 4 cups of water).

This should not be used for more than 2 days because it will keep mucositis from healing.

http://www.cancer.gov

ScienceDaily (Apr. 18, 2007) — Using Chinese herbs either alone or in conjunction with chemotherapy may help protect a breast cancer patient’s bone marrow and immune system, as well as improving the woman’s overall quality of life.

Sixty per cent of women undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer experience a range of significant short term side effects. These include nausea, vomiting and fatigue, as well as inflammation of the gut lining, decreased numbers of red and white blood cells and decreased numbers of blood platelets.

Chinese medicinal herbs include mixtures of herbal compounds or extracts from herbs, and they are prescribed to counteract the side effects of chemotherapy. This Cochrane Systematic Review set out to see if there is conventional evidence indicating that these medicines are safe and whether there is evidence that the medicines are effective.

The researchers identified seven randomised studies involving 542 patients with breast cancer. By analysing these data, the researchers concluded that there was no evidence that the Chinese medicinal herbal treatment caused harm, and some evidence that it might reduce side effects.

“Further trials are needed before the effects of traditional Chinese medicines for people with breast cancer can be evaluated with any real confidence,” says Assistant Professor Jing Li, who works at the Chinese Cochrane Centre in Chengdu, China.

Saliva is needed for taste, swallowing, and speech. It helps prevent infection and tooth decay by neutralizing acid and cleaning the teeth and gums. Radiation therapy can damage salivary glands, causing them to make too little saliva. The mouth is less able to clean itself. Acid in the mouth is not neutralized, and minerals are lost from the teeth. Tooth decay and gum disease are more likely to develop. In addition, there is some evidence that salivary glands may be damaged by certain types of chemotherapy drugs given alone or in combination. Symptoms of dry mouth include the following:

• Thick, stringy saliva.
• Increased thirst.
• Changes in taste, swallowing, and speech.
• A sore or burning feeling (especially on the tongue).
• Cuts or cracks in the lips or at the corners of the mouth.
• Changes in the surface of the tongue.
• Difficulty wearing dentures.

Salivary glands may not recover completely after radiation therapy ends.

Saliva production drops within 1 week after starting radiation therapy to the head and/or neck and continues to decrease as treatment continues. The severity of dry mouth depends on the dose of radiation and the number of glands irradiated. The salivary glands in the upper cheeks near the ears are more affected than other salivary glands.

Partial recovery of salivary glands may occur in the first year after radiation therapy, but recovery is usually not complete, especially if the salivary glands were directly irradiated. Salivary glands that were not irradiated may become more active to offset the loss of saliva from the destroyed glands.

Careful oral hygiene can help prevent mouth sores, gum disease, and tooth decay caused by dry mouth.

The following are guidelines for managing dry mouth:

• Clean the mouth and teeth at least 4 times a day.
• Floss once a day.
• Use a fluoride toothpaste when brushing.
• Apply fluoride gel once a day at bedtime, after cleaning the teeth.
• Rinse 4 to 6 times a day with a solution of salt and baking soda (mix ½ teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon baking soda in 1 cup of warm water). Avoid foods and liquids that contain a lot of sugar. Sip water to relieve mouth dryness.

A dentist can provide the following treatments:

• Solutions to replace minerals in the teeth.
• Rinses to fight infection in the mouth.
• Saliva substitutes or medications to stimulate the salivary glands.
• Fluoride treatments to prevent tooth decay.

Tooth Decay

Dry mouth and changes in the balance of oral bacteria increase the risk of tooth decay. Meticulous oral hygiene (as described in Routine Oral Care) and regular care by a dentist can help prevent cavities.

Damage to the lining of the mouth and a weakened immune system make it easier for infection to occur.

Oral mucositis breaks down the lining of the mouth, allowing germs and viruses to get into the bloodstream. When the immune system is weakened by chemotherapy, even good bacteria in the mouth can cause infections, as can disease-causing organisms picked up from the hospital or other sources. As the white blood cell count gets lower, infections may occur more often and become more serious. Patients who have low white blood cell counts for a long time are more at risk of developing serious infections. Dry mouth, common during radiation therapy to the head and neck, may also raise the risk of infections in the mouth. Preventive dental care during chemotherapy and radiation therapy can reduce the risk of mouth, tooth, and gum infections.

The following types of infections may occur:

Bacterial infections

Treatment of bacterial infections in patients who have gum disease and receive high-dose chemotherapy may include the following:

• Medicated and peroxide mouth rinses.
• Brushing and flossing.
• Wearing dentures as little as possible.

Bacterial infections in patients undergoing radiation therapy are usually treated with antibiotics.

Fungal infections

The mouth normally contains fungi that can exist on or in the body without causing any problems. An overgrowth of fungi, however, can be serious and requires treatment.

Antibiotics and steroid drugs are often used when a patient receiving chemotherapy has a low white blood cell count. These drugs change the balance of bacteria in the mouth, making it easier for a fungal overgrowth to occur. Fungal infections are common in patients treated with radiation therapy.

Drugs may be given to prevent fungal infections from occurring. Treatment of surface fungal infections in the mouth only may include mouthwashes and lozenges that contain antifungal drugs. These are used after removing dentures, brushing the teeth, and cleaning the mouth. An antibacterial rinse should be used on dentures and dental appliances and to rinse the mouth.

Deeper fungal infections, such as those in the esophagus or intestines, are treated with drugs taken by mouth or injection.

Viral infections

Patients receiving chemotherapy, especially those with weakened immune systems, are at risk of mild to serious viral infections. Finding and treating the infections early is important. Drugs may be used to prevent or treat viral infections.

Herpes virus infections may recur in radiation therapy patients who have these infections.

Bleeding

Bleeding may occur during chemotherapy when anticancer drugs affect the ability of blood to clot.

Areas of gum disease may bleed on their own or when irritated by eating, brushing, or flossing. Bleeding may be mild (small red spots on the lips, soft palate, or bottom of the mouth) or severe, especially at the gumline and from ulcers in the mouth. When blood counts drop below certain levels, blood may ooze from the gums.

With close monitoring, most patients can safely brush and floss throughout the entire time of decreased blood counts.

Continuing regular oral care will help prevent infections that may further complicate bleeding problems. The dentist or doctor can provide guidance on how to treat bleeding and safely keep the mouth clean when blood counts are low.

Treatment for bleeding during chemotherapy may include the following:

• Medications to reduce blood flow and help clots form.
• Topical products that cover and seal bleeding areas.
• Rinsing with a mixture of one part 3% hydrogen peroxide to 2 or 3 parts saltwater solution (1 teaspoon of salt in 4 cups of water) to help clean oral wounds. Rinsing must be done carefully so clots are not disturbed.

Relieving pain

• Try topical medications for pain. Rinse the mouth before applying the medication onto the gums or lining of the mouth. Wipe mouth and teeth gently with wet gauze dipped in saltwater to remove particles.
• Painkillers may provide relief when topical medications do not. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS, aspirin -type painkillers) should not be used by patients receiving chemotherapy because these patients have a bleeding risk.
• Capsaicin, the active ingredient in hot peppers, may be used to increase a person’s ability to tolerate pain. When capsaicin is put on inflamed tissues in the mouth, mucositis pain may decrease as the burning feeling from the capsaicin decreases. The side effects of capsaicin are not known.
• Zinc supplements taken during radiation therapy may help treat mucositis as well as dermatitis (inflammation of the skin).