Chemotherapy may cause a temporary decrease in immune cells, increasing your risk of gum disease and causing them to become red, swollen, and tender. Brushing and eating may become painful, and, in some cases, the gums may also pull away from the teeth, increasing the risk of tooth loss.
Bisphosphonate treatment can cause a rare but serious side effect called “osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ).” ONJ causes part of the jaw bone to die, which can lead to pain, open sores and higher risk of tooth loss and infection.
You should use toothpaste that contains fluoride. You should also floss your teeth daily. If flossing causes bleeding or soreness, you should avoid that area but continue to floss all of your other teeth. You should avoid using alcohol and tobacco products.
Chemotherapy and radiotherapy may have serious effects on developing teeth such as delayed dental development, microdontia, hypoplasia, agenesis and V-shaped and shortened roots [8–10].
Remember: Visit your dentist before your cancer treatment starts. Take good care of your mouth during treatment. Talk regularly with your oncologist and dentist about any mouth problems you may have.
The neuropathy originated from neurotoxicity of anticancer drugs is usually described as a diffuse jaw pain or numbness in orofacial structures. This article reports localized tooth pain as a possible outcome of administrating high dosage chemotherapy drugs particularly in the last cycles of application.
Five to 10 days following an initial chemotherapy treatment, inflammation and sores can develop on the tongue, gums and anywhere along the digestive tract. This can lead to discomfort and a loss of taste.
Most chemotherapy side effects go away in time, but some can linger and require monitoring or treatment. Possible long-term side effects of chemo include damage to your heart and peripheral neuropathy, in which damaged nerves can cause pain, weakness or numbness in the extremities – arms, hands, legs and feet.
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.
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.
Toothpastes containing SLS should be avoided if you have sore mouth (mucositis), oral ulcers or dry mouth. Biotene 'Dry Mouth Toothpaste' is SLS free, contains fluoride and important salivary enzymes. CTX4 is also SLS free, as is MI paste, and both are good for sensitive mouths.
If there's a metallic taste, sometimes a little sweetener, like maple syrup, can help,” Katz said. “If foods taste too sweet, you can add drops of lemon or lime until that's muted. If it tastes too salty, then ¼ teaspoon of lemon juice can erase that. If it's too bitter, you have to add a little bit of sweet.
Loose teeth can occur for several reasons, usually some type of trauma to the mouth. However, when you have loose teeth with no apparent cause, this can be a sign of oral cancer.
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.
Many dentists routinely check for mouth and oropharyngeal cancer. So they are often the first people to spot the early signs of cancer. If the dentist suspects cancer they can refer you to a specialist. Report any changes to your GP or dentist, especially if you smoke and drink a lot of alcohol.
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.
The mean and median time between chemotherapy discontinuation and death were 93 days (± 97) and 65 days (IQR: 36.5-109), respectively.
So, it is not surprising that many people feel that they age dramatically during chemotherapy. During chemotherapy, the epidermis loses its ability to hold on to moisture, which leads to fine lines in the skin's surface. In the dermis, the collagen and elastin break down, which weakens the skin's support structure.
Does Radiation Oncology Have Fewer Side Effects Compared to Chemotherapy? Radiation oncology and chemotherapy are both effective cancer treatments; however, they are different in many ways. Radiation oncology is localized: it targets only the affected area of the body, and therefore, tends to have fewer side effects.
On average, chemotherapy accelerated aging by approximately 17 years of life span, with acceleration of 23 to 27 years for those treated with anthracycline-based treatment.
If your cancer treatment includes taking oral chemotherapy, there are important safety tips you and your caregiver should follow. It is safe to touch other people while on chemotherapy. You can hug and kiss. But you do need to protect others from coming into contact with your medicine.
Try other protein sources like poultry, eggs, fish, peanut butter, beans, or dairy products. Marinate meats in fruit juices, sweet wines, salad dressings, or other sauces. Flavor foods with herbs, spices, sugar, lemon, or sauces. Avoid eating 1 to 2 hours before and up to 3 hours after chemotherapy.
Nerve damage can occur with chemotherapy, and this may get worse with each dose. Sometimes, treatment has to be stopped because of this. However, other side effects, including nausea, constipation and diarrhea, are not typically cumulative with repeated treatment.