![]() What pain medicine and/or mouthwashes could help me?.What symptoms or problems should I call the doctor about?.When might these problems start to occur? How long might they last?.Consider adding these questions to your list: Prepare for your visit by making a list of questions to ask. Talking with your health care team about mouth and throat problems If you have a bad taste in your mouth, try sugar-free lemon drops, gum, or mints.If foods taste metallic, switch to plastic utensils and non-metal cooking dishes.If foods taste salty, bitter, or acidic, try sweetening them.If red meat tastes strange, switch to other high-protein foods such as chicken, eggs, fish, peanut butter, turkey, beans, or dairy products.If food tastes bland, marinate foods to improve their flavor or add spices to foods.If you have taste changes it may help to try different foods to find ones that taste best to you. Chemotherapy drugs may cause an unpleasant chemical or metallic taste in your mouth. Radiation therapy may cause a change in sweet, sour, bitter, and salty tastes. For changes to your sense of taste: Foods may seem to have no taste or may not taste the way they used to or food may not have much taste at all. ![]() Acupuncture may also help with dry mouth. Ask about medicines such as saliva substitutes that can coat, protect, and moisten your mouth and throat. Suck on ice chips or sugar-free hard candy, have frozen desserts, or chew sugar-free gum. Keep water handy and sip it often to keep your mouth wet. For a dry mouth: Drink plenty of liquids because a dry mouth can increase the risk of tooth decay and mouth infections.Avoid foods and drinks that can irritate your mouth foods that are crunchy, salty, spicy, or sugary and alcoholic drinks. Ask about pain medicine, such as lozenges or sprays that numb your mouth and make eating less painful. Use a blender to make milkshakes or blend your food to make it easier to swallow. Soften dry foods with gravy, sauce, or other liquids. For a sore mouth or throat: Choose foods that are soft, wet, and easy to swallow.Your health care team may suggest that you take these and other steps to manage these problems: Ways to manage mouth problems and changes in taste If you are at risk of bleeding, ask if you should floss. Use a very soft toothbrush or cotton swabs. Gently brush your teeth, gums, and tongue after each meal and before going to bed at night. Ask your nurse to write down the mouth rinse recipe that is recommended for you. Rinse your mouth throughout the day with a solution of warm water, baking soda, and salt. Tell your doctor or nurse as soon as you notice any changes, such as pain or sensitivity. Check your mouth every day for sores or white spots. Tell the dentist about your cancer treatment and try to get any dental work completed before starting treatment. Before you start treatment, visit your dentist for a cleaning and check-up. Get a dental check-up before starting treatment.Your doctor or nurse may advise you to take these and other steps: Lists of foods and drinks that may help are also included. Practical information to help you manage side effects related to eating. Ways to prevent mouth and dental problemsĮating Hints: Before, during, and after Cancer Treatment It’s important to call your doctor or nurse if you have pain in your mouth, lips, or throat that makes it difficult to eat, drink, or sleep or if you have a fever of 100.5 ☏ (38 ☌) or higher. Mouth problems (also called oral problems) are more serious if they interfere with eating and drinking because they can lead to dehydration and/or malnutrition. pain or swelling in your mouth ( oral mucositis).What mouth and throat problems may occur? Drugs used to treat cancer and certain bone problems may also cause oral problems. Some types of chemotherapy and immunotherapy can also harm cells in your mouth, throat, and lips. Radiation therapy to the head and neck may harm the salivary glands and tissues in your mouth and/or make it hard to chew and swallow safely. Credit: National Cancer Institute What causes mouth and throat problems?Ĭancer treatments may cause mouth, throat, and dental problems.
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