BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuOral mucositis - self-careCancer treatment - mucositis; Cancer treatment - mouth pain; Cancer treatment - mouth sores; Chemotherapy - mucositis; Chemotherapy - mouth pain; Chemotherapy - mouth sores; Radiation therapy - mucositis; Radiation therapy - mouth pain; Radiation therapy - mouth soresOral mucositis is tissue swelling and irritation in the mouth. Radiation therapy or chemotherapy may cause mucositis. Follow your health care provider's instructions on how to care for your mouth. Use the information below as a reminder.RadiationRadiation therapy uses high-powered radiation (such as x-rays or gamma rays), particles, or radioactive seeds to kill cancer cells.Read Article Now Book Mark Article ChemotherapyThe term chemotherapy is used to describe cancer-killing drugs. Chemotherapy may be used to:Cure the cancerShrink the cancerPrevent the cancer from ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article What to ExpectWhen you have mucositis, you may have symptoms such as:Mouth pain Mouth sores Mouth soresThere are different types of mouth sores. They can occur anywhere in the mouth including bottom of the mouth, inner cheeks, gums, lips, and tongue....Read Article Now Book Mark Article Infection BleedingWith chemotherapy, mucositis heals by itself when there is no infection. Healing usually takes 2 to 4 weeks. Mucositis caused by radiation therapy usually lasts 6 to 8 weeks, depending on how long you have radiation treatment.Taking Care of Your MouthTake good care of your mouth during cancer treatment. Not doing so can lead to an increase in bacteria in your mouth. The bacteria can cause infection in your mouth, which can spread to other parts of your body.Brush your teeth and gums 2 or 3 times a day for 2 to 3 minutes each time. Use a toothbrush with soft bristles. Use a toothpaste with fluoride. Let your toothbrush air dry between brushings. If toothpaste makes your mouth sore, brush with a solution of 1 teaspoon (tsp) or 5 grams (g) of salt mixed with 4 cups (c) or 1 liter (L) of water. Pour a small amount into a clean cup to dip your toothbrush into each time you brush. Floss gently once a day. Rinse your mouth 5 or 6 times a day for 1 to 2 minutes each time. Use one of the following solutions when you rinse:1 tsp (5 g) of salt in 4 c (1 L) of water 1 tsp (5 g) of baking soda in 8 ounces (oz) or 240 milliliters(ml) of water 1 tsp (5 g) of salt and 1 tsp (5 g ) of baking soda in 4 c (1 L) of waterDon't use rinses that have alcohol in them. You may use an antibacterial rinse 2 to 4 times a day for gum disease.To further take care of your mouth:Don't eat foods or drink beverages that have a lot of sugar in them. They may cause tooth decay. Use lip care products to keep your lips from drying and cracking. Sip water to ease dry mouth. Eat sugar-free candy or chew sugar-free gum to help keep your mouth moist. Stop wearing your dentures if they cause you to get sores on your gums. Relieving PainAsk your provider about treatments you can use in your mouth, including:Bland rinses Mucosal coating agents Water-soluble lubricating agents, including artificial saliva Pain medicine "Magic mouthwash" (a mouthwash to help treat mouth sores, available with a prescription)Your provider may also give you pills for pain or medicine to fight infection in your mouth.Open ReferencesReferencesDoroshow JH. Approach to the patient with cancer. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 164.Majithia N, Hallemeier CL, Loprinzi CL. Oral complications. In: Niederhuber JE, Armitage JO, Kastan MB, Doroshow JH, Tepper JE, eds. Abeloff's Clinical Oncology. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 40.National Cancer Institute website. Oral complications of cancer therapies (PDQ) - health professional version. www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/side-effects/mouth-throat/oral-complications-hp-pdq. Updated February 16, 2024. Accessed May 29, 2024.AllVideoImagesTogSelf Care Oral mucositis - self-careRelated Information Mastectomy(Surgery)Bone marrow transplant(Surgery)HIV/AIDS(Condition)Bone marrow transplant - discharge(Discharge)After chemotherapy - discharge(Discharge)Bleeding during cancer treatment(Self-Care)Brain radiation - discharge(Discharge)Mouth and neck radiation - discharge(Discharge)Chemotherapy - what to ask your doctor(Doctor Questions)Radiation therapy - questions to ask your doctor(Doctor Questions) Review Date: 3/31/2024 Reviewed By: Todd Gersten, MD, Hematology/Oncology, Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute, Wellington, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. © 1997- All rights reserved. A.D.A.M. content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.Content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.
Oral mucositis - self-careCancer treatment - mucositis; Cancer treatment - mouth pain; Cancer treatment - mouth sores; Chemotherapy - mucositis; Chemotherapy - mouth pain; Chemotherapy - mouth sores; Radiation therapy - mucositis; Radiation therapy - mouth pain; Radiation therapy - mouth soresOral mucositis is tissue swelling and irritation in the mouth. Radiation therapy or chemotherapy may cause mucositis. Follow your health care provider's instructions on how to care for your mouth. Use the information below as a reminder.RadiationRadiation therapy uses high-powered radiation (such as x-rays or gamma rays), particles, or radioactive seeds to kill cancer cells.Read Article Now Book Mark Article ChemotherapyThe term chemotherapy is used to describe cancer-killing drugs. Chemotherapy may be used to:Cure the cancerShrink the cancerPrevent the cancer from ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article What to ExpectWhen you have mucositis, you may have symptoms such as:Mouth pain Mouth sores Mouth soresThere are different types of mouth sores. They can occur anywhere in the mouth including bottom of the mouth, inner cheeks, gums, lips, and tongue....Read Article Now Book Mark Article Infection BleedingWith chemotherapy, mucositis heals by itself when there is no infection. Healing usually takes 2 to 4 weeks. Mucositis caused by radiation therapy usually lasts 6 to 8 weeks, depending on how long you have radiation treatment.Taking Care of Your MouthTake good care of your mouth during cancer treatment. Not doing so can lead to an increase in bacteria in your mouth. The bacteria can cause infection in your mouth, which can spread to other parts of your body.Brush your teeth and gums 2 or 3 times a day for 2 to 3 minutes each time. Use a toothbrush with soft bristles. Use a toothpaste with fluoride. Let your toothbrush air dry between brushings. If toothpaste makes your mouth sore, brush with a solution of 1 teaspoon (tsp) or 5 grams (g) of salt mixed with 4 cups (c) or 1 liter (L) of water. Pour a small amount into a clean cup to dip your toothbrush into each time you brush. Floss gently once a day. Rinse your mouth 5 or 6 times a day for 1 to 2 minutes each time. Use one of the following solutions when you rinse:1 tsp (5 g) of salt in 4 c (1 L) of water 1 tsp (5 g) of baking soda in 8 ounces (oz) or 240 milliliters(ml) of water 1 tsp (5 g) of salt and 1 tsp (5 g ) of baking soda in 4 c (1 L) of waterDon't use rinses that have alcohol in them. You may use an antibacterial rinse 2 to 4 times a day for gum disease.To further take care of your mouth:Don't eat foods or drink beverages that have a lot of sugar in them. They may cause tooth decay. Use lip care products to keep your lips from drying and cracking. Sip water to ease dry mouth. Eat sugar-free candy or chew sugar-free gum to help keep your mouth moist. Stop wearing your dentures if they cause you to get sores on your gums. Relieving PainAsk your provider about treatments you can use in your mouth, including:Bland rinses Mucosal coating agents Water-soluble lubricating agents, including artificial saliva Pain medicine "Magic mouthwash" (a mouthwash to help treat mouth sores, available with a prescription)Your provider may also give you pills for pain or medicine to fight infection in your mouth.Open ReferencesReferencesDoroshow JH. Approach to the patient with cancer. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 164.Majithia N, Hallemeier CL, Loprinzi CL. Oral complications. In: Niederhuber JE, Armitage JO, Kastan MB, Doroshow JH, Tepper JE, eds. Abeloff's Clinical Oncology. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 40.National Cancer Institute website. Oral complications of cancer therapies (PDQ) - health professional version. www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/side-effects/mouth-throat/oral-complications-hp-pdq. Updated February 16, 2024. Accessed May 29, 2024.