After chemotherapy is completed most people can return to their regular dental care routine -- brushing, flossing and seeing a dentist at regular intervals for cleaning.
The most appropriate time to schedule dental treatment during chemotherapy is after patients' blood counts have recovered, usually just prior to their next scheduled round or course of chemotherapy.
The best way to keep your teeth and gums healthy is to remove plaque and bacteria regularly. So, during cancer treatment, be sure to attend six-month dental cleanings and checkups. Call your dentist if you have questions about oral abnormalities or other concerns.
Brush teeth, gums, and tongue gently with an • extra-soft toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste after every meal and at bedtime. If brushing hurts, soften the bristles in warm water. Floss teeth gently every day. If your gums bleed • and hurt, avoid the areas that are bleeding or sore but keep flossing your other teeth.
Chemotherapy and radiation therapy may cause changes in the lining of the mouth and the salivary glands, which make saliva. This can upset the healthy balance of bacteria. These changes may lead to mouth sores, infections, and tooth decay.
Most dental treatment should be avoided during chemotherapy. Emergency treatment is possible if your immune system is strong enough.
Around the third day following a chemotherapy treatment, some people may experience flu-like symptoms such as muscle aches and pains. If you experience these aches, you can take over-the-counter medications such as Tylenol or Advil. If necessary, contact your doctor for stronger medication.
Dental issues.
If you don't produce enough saliva because of cancer treatment, plaque can build up more easily on your teeth. Plaque can cause tooth decay and gum disease. Tip: Practice good oral hygiene, such as regular brushing and flossing.
In severe cases with heavy decay, we may recommend using Gel-Kam or other strong fluoride toothpaste like Prevident 5000 or CTX5000, and placing fluoride gel in the trays overnight.
Use a fluoride toothpaste or baking soda with fluoride.
Dental cleanings are necessary as they help to ensure that patients' teeth and gums are healthy. They are a very important part of one's overall oral care routine as these cleanings help to remove any plaque or tartar buildup that can lead to mouth problems, like tooth decay.
The role of the dental hygienist
As a dental hygienist, you typically see your patient more often, and for longer, than the dentist. That makes you well-placed to perform regular oral cancer screening and provide oral health guidance.
Chemotherapy can be administered a number of ways but common ways include orally and intravenously. The chemotherapy itself stays in the body within 2 -3 days of treatment but there are short-term and long-term side effects that patients may experience.
For 48 hours after receiving chemotherapy, patients and caregivers should follow these precautions: Flush toilets twice each time they are used. If possible, patients should use a separate toilet from others in the home. Always wash hands with soap and water after using the toilet.
Targeted cancer drugs and immunotherapy can also cause a sore mouth. A sore mouth caused by chemotherapy usually happens about 7 days after you start treatment and is at its worst around days 10 to 14. It gradually clears up about 2 weeks after it started.
Drinking enough water and fluids will help to flush out some of the toxins that are released during chemotherapy or radiation therapy as well as help prevent future health problems. Drinking fresh-pressed juices is a great way to get your nutrients and vitamins back in your body after being pumped with toxic chemicals.
If your loved one is receiving chemotherapy or other similar medications, wash their laundry -- including sheets and towels -- separately from the rest of your household's laundry. If you can't wash them right away, put them in a plastic bag until you're able to take care of it.
Foods with a higher sugar content have more carbohydrates in them, so if you eat a lot of candy and cookies you are more likely to form plaque. The first step of plaque formation occurs when you break down food into carbohydrates while chewing it.
Cancer patients who have undergone chemotherapy or a radiation treatment may also notice their teeth changing from white to a brownish or yellowish color. Medications such as antibiotics can also affect the color of your teeth and is more prevalent in younger kids.
Certain treatments like head and neck radiation and chemotherapy can also cause tooth discoloration. Other factors include medications, genetics, and environmental effects. It can also happen naturally, as with age, the enamel gets worn out and the yellow layer of dentin is revealed.
Short, planned delays in chemotherapy for good-risk GCT patients (less than or equal to 7 days per cycle) appear to be acceptable since they may prevent serious toxicity in this curable patient population. Delays of longer than 7 days are strongly discouraged except in extraordinary life-threatening circumstances.
For most people the side effects were worst in the first few days after treatment, then they gradually felt better until the next treatment. Some said the effects were worse with each successive treatment. Most side effects don't persist and disappear within a few weeks after the end of treatment.
Breast cancer: Women with breast cancer have an overall 30% chance of recurrence. Many cases happen within five years of completing the initial treatment. Cervical cancer: Of those with invasive cervical cancer, an estimated 35% will have a recurrence.