Cancer and Oral Care Take Teamwork

Cancer and oral health may seem unlikely partners, but your oral tissues are going to be at the center of a firestorm when you begin cancer treatments.
If we can examine you two weeks prior to beginning your treatments, we can likely prevent serious dental problems.
Some oral problems you may experience and preventive measures you can do at home include:

Xerostomia—Cancer treatments affect the salivary glands, which result in dry mouth (xerostomia). Drink plenty of fluids, preferably water. Without the protective saliva, oral bacteria voraciously feed on sugary drinks and food and eventually cause tooth decay. Chew sugarless gum or suck on mints made with the natural sweetener, xylitol. We can prescribe a saliva substitute.
Oral hygiene—Keep a stringent oral care routine even though you won't want to crawl out of bed. Brush with fluoride toothpaste after each meal and before you go to bed, and clean your tongue with a tongue scraper. Use a mouth rinse that does not containalcohol because alcohol can cause xerostomia. Gently floss every day.

Cavities—Radiation can cause rampant cavities. Using a gel fluoride product every day will be your teeth's best friend.
Etched tooth enamel—A hard, protective layer of mineral covers your teeth. Cancer treatments can cause you to regurgitate stomach acids that destroy tooth enamel. Immediately after regurgitating, rinse your mouth with ¼ teaspoon baking soda stirred into 1 cup warm water.
Infection—Chemo can make you less resistant to oral bacterial and fungal infections. Watch for signs of swelling, bleeding, a sore, or a sticky white film in your mouth. Immediately call our office or your oncologist so that we can prescribe a medication to get the infection under control.Good oral health will help you as you proceed with your cancer treatment program. It is critical that you make and keep your appointments so that we can assist you during this stressful,topsy-turvy time.

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The Sjogrens Syndrome Desert

The Mojave Desert is a unique environment where moisture is scarce.
Your mouth is also a unique environment, and if you suffer from
Sjögren's Syndrome, your mouth likely feels like a desert, too.

Sjögren's Syndrome occurs when your body mistakes your salivary glands for foreign intruders and attacks them.

Occasionally, everyone's mouth feels dry like desert sand. Perhaps it
was something you ate or a medication you took that caused your saliva
flow to diminish. However, this desert goes beyond occasional dryness,
as any of the four million Sjögren's Syndrome sufferers in the U.S.
with will tell you.

Unfortunately, someone with Sjögren's Syndrome typically has the
disease for six years before it is diagnosed because it mimics and
co-exists with several other conditions. You likely recognize the names
of two of those conditions: rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.

To complicate diagnosis, no two people have the same signs or symptoms. Some signs and symptoms include—

enlarged saliva glands thick, sticky saliva decreased ability to taste foods and smell difficulty chewing, swallowing and talking burning sensation in the mouth dry cough, nose and skin sore or cracked tongue

extreme fatigue joint pain increase in cavities teeth are sensitive to hot, cold and sweets oral infections, like yeast (thrush) digestion problems difficulty tolerating dentures

There is no cure for Sjögren's Syndrome, and saliva is one of the
most important fluids in your body. It helps to protect you from
bacteria, yeasts and viruses.

During your regular check-ups, we can usually detect early stages of
Sjögren's Syndrome before you are aware of dryness in your mouth. We
can monitor your dental health and give you recommendations for things
you can do at home to ease the desert sand discomfort you will no doubt
experience. There are prescription medications and new over-the-counter
oral care products that might provide relief.

The desert is an interesting place to visit, but you probably don't
want to live there! If you have Sjögren's Syndrome, we need to
intervene quickly. Please call us right away if you are experiencing a
dental issue. We want to keep you and your teeth in the best of health.

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