Dry mouth

Dry mouth is a common and uncomfortable long-term side effect for head and neck patients who have had radiation and/or chemotherapy treatments:

  • Radiation can damage the salivary glands and cause diminished saliva flow.
  • Saliva is critical to the normal moisture of our mouth and tbeing able to properly chew, swallow and digest food.
  • The severity of dry mouth varies from patient to patient.
  • Some patients recover quickly, but for others it may take two years or longer.

 

There are many ways to help cope with dry mouth, such as:

  • Carry a bottle of water or sugar-free juice with you at all times.
  • Use artificial saliva products.
  • Food coices are important, choose soft foods that are easily digestible.
  • Eat soft food that is easy to digest.
  • Avoiding foods that require lot of chewing such as steak and barbecued foods.

 

If dry mouth is severe you may consider medication. Two drugs (pilocarpine, also called Salagen and Cevimeline, also called Evoxac) have been shown to decrease sensation of oral dryness.

  • These medications are usually taken 3 to 4 times a day after meals
  • Effects last from 2 to 4 hours.
  • The side effects of these two drugs are usually mild.
  • One common side effect is sweating.
  • Other possible side effects are stomach upset, runny nose, flushing, chills, dizziness, and weakness.
  • Frequent urination may occur the first few days as your body adjusts to the medication.

 

Here are a few tips that may help stimulate production and flow of saliva:

  • Chewing sugar-free gums.
  • Eating foods requiring soft and gentle mastication (such as food rich of fiber).
  • Suck a cherry or olive pit or a rind of a lemon or lime.
  • When desired, use sour-tasting, sugar-free candies.

 

You should also take precautions to prevent injury to oral tissues.

Ask your dentist about:

  • Proper tooth brushing techniques.
  • Flossing.
  • Brushing the surface of the tongue.

Using fluoride toothpaste daily can also help. Seeing your dentist regularly to check your oral health and treatment of any dental problems is important.

The following can be quite helpful, especially early in recovery:

  • Decrease or avoid eating spicy, very acidic or salty foods, which can irritate oral tissues.
  • Avoid drinking alcohol.
  • Definitely avoid smoking; smoking is very damaging to the oral tissues and prevents recovery.
  • Chew food slowly and thoroughly. If you chew too fast, there’s a higher risk tha tyou’ll bite your tongue.
  • Sip water with chewed food before swallowing. Swallowing food that is too dry can cause choking.

 

For more information about Supportive Care:

Tips for Patients Completing Head and Neck Cancer Therapy.

 

To learn more about long-term side effects, you may follow the link to the website of cancer.net, a cancer support website of American Society of Clinical Oncology.

 

For more information about late effects of radiation therapy, follow this link to the National Cancer Institute web page.

 

Other common side effects after cancer treatment

 

 

 

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