Dear Mayo Clinic: How to manage dry mouth during cancer care

By Cynthia Weiss

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I used to be identified with oral cavity most cancers and can want surgical procedure. I spoke to a different affected person who underwent the same process, and he mentioned he had many points afterward with hyposalivation, which affected his consuming, talking and oral well being. Are you able to clarify what that is and the way do I forestall it?

ANSWER: Whereas they’re being handled, folks with head and neck most cancers typically expertise xerostomia, or dry mouthwhich can be attributable to a situation referred to as hyposalivation or decreased saliva manufacturing. Although it isn’t essentially a aspect impact of surgical procedure, it’s typically related to different therapies to the pinnacle and neck, corresponding to radiation remedy. This situation can considerably have an effect on an individual’s oral well being and total high quality of life.

The usual of take care of folks with head and neck cancer can embody surgical procedure, radiation remedy, chemotherapy, focused remedy or a mix of those therapies. Sadly, about 70% of sufferers could expertise injury to wholesome tissue adjoining to the therapy space. This consists of the salivary glands answerable for producing and secreting saliva into the mouth.

Saliva performs an important function in sustaining oral well being by serving to to interrupt down meals, neutralize acids and forestall bacterial overgrowth within the mouth. Additionally, saliva aids in swallowing and retains the mouth moist, stopping discomfort and talking difficulties. Any change to the salivary gland disrupts the traditional saliva move, inflicting dry mouth.

As your buddy identified, a number of challenges can come up from hyposalivation, together with oral well being considerations, since saliva helps shield tooth and gums from decay and infections. Diminished saliva move can improve the danger of dental cavities, gum illness and oral infections.

An absence of saliva can also alter your style. Saliva is important for carrying style molecules from meals to our style buds. With decreased saliva manufacturing, style could also be altered, which might result in much less enjoyment whereas consuming and ingesting. Additionally, saliva is critical to create a cushty surroundings for dentures. Dry mouth could make carrying dentures uncomfortable and will trigger irritation.

Recognizing the variety of folks affected by hyposalivation, analysis is happening to attempt to discover new alternate options for sufferers. At Mayo Clinic, researchers are whether or not stem cells can restore salivary gland operate. This analysis is ongoing, however preliminary outcomes look very promising. Between now (when that you must be handled in your head and neck most cancers) and the time stem cell analysis can present definitive therapies, discuss together with your care workforce to find out the danger for hyposalivation. This will help you concentrate on potential adjustments and create a plan to handle the situation if it arises. Contemplate talking with a dietitian for easy-to-chew meals you possibly can swallow and revel in throughout restoration to keep up satisfactory vitamin. That is notably necessary when you have particular dietary restrictions or considerations outdoors your most cancers.

Different tips to help manage hyposalivation:

• Preserve wonderful oral hygiene. Common brushing, flossing and rinsing with fluoride mouthwashes will help forestall dental issues. It is very important proceed with common dental visits after surgical procedure to make sure your mouth and tooth stay wholesome.
• Keep hydrated. Sipping water repeatedly will help maintain the mouth moist. Avoiding sugary and acidic drinks is really useful, as they’ll contribute to dental points.
• Use saliva substitutes. Over-the-counter saliva substitutes can quickly alleviate dry mouth. There are sprays, gels and lozenges obtainable.
• Chew gum or sweet. Chewing on gum or sucking on sweet can stimulate saliva move. Be sure you select the sugarless selection to restrict the danger of cavities or different considerations.
• Choose moist or softer meals. Issues like eggs, oatmeal, cottage cheese, yogurt, avocado, canned fruit in pure juices, hummus or tofu are all nice choices that simply could be included into many dishes.
• Be aware of the temperature. Be sure that meals are usually not too scorching or spicy, as warmth can worsen mouth discomfort.
• Keep away from dry air. Relying upon the place you reside, dry air generally is a lifestyle. However think about using a humidifier at evening so as to add moisture to the air and cut back dryness.
• Keep away from tobacco and alcohol. Each tobacco and alcohol can exacerbate dry mouth.

Although hyposalivation is widespread for sufferers who’ve obtained multimodality remedy for oral most cancers, with superior preparation, you possibly can hopefully alleviate the discomfort it causes to keep up a very good high quality of life and simpler restoration. — Dr. A.S. Jeffrey Janus, MDOtolaryngology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida

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