Malignant tumors of the head and neck such as nasopharyngeal carcinoma , brain tumors and oral cancer, etc., require radiotherapy for the head and neck. After radiotherapy, it can prolong survival and improve quality of life. However, while radiotherapy kills cancer cells, surrounding tissues and organs will also be damaged, especially mumps and submandibular glands. Patients are prone to various oral problems after radio and chemotherapy. Don’t panic and teach you how to deal with it step by step.
What oral problems are prone to occur after radiotherapy in patients with tumors?
1, dry and cracked corners of the mouth
1 During radiotherapy or after radiotherapy, the oral mucosa becomes dry, accompanied by oral burning sensation and dry and cracked corners of the mouth. In addition, you are prone to thirst when eating, talking or sleeping, and you must drink water or soup to relieve it.
2, dysphagia or chewing
When eating, food is prone to stick to teeth, tongue and oral mucosa. It must be taken with water or soup. Also, lips tend to stick together, and the tongue will stick to the palate, chewing and swallowing are hindered.
3, caries
chemotherapy can damage salivary glands , so the saliva secretion decreases, and can continuously corrode the enamel, and over time, caries can be generated, which is medically called radioactive caries.
4, ulcer
The denture is not suitable or the denture is not fixed, and mucosal pain or mucosal ulcers are prone to occur where the denture is worn.
5. Oral candidiasis
Radiotherapy will weaken the antibacterial effect of saliva and reduce the oral self-cleaning ability, so it is easy to cause Candida infection.
6. Abnormal or weakened taste
Radiation therapy will also destroy taste bud cells, reduce saliva secretion, causing abnormal taste or weakened taste, especially high-dose radiotherapy will lead to loss of taste.
How to protect the oral during or after radiotherapy?
1. Pay attention to oral cleaning
Choose a soft-haired, small-headed health toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste . Brush your teeth after three meals a day and once before going to bed. Master the correct brushing method to ensure that every surface of the teeth can be brushed. The time for brushing teeth cannot be less than three minutes. At the same time, change the toothbrush once a month.
2. After meals, rinse your mouth after meals
Three meals a day or snacks should be rinsed in time. Each time, rinse your mouth cannot be less than 3 minutes. Put a small mouthwash in your mouth, close your mouth, swell your lips and cheeks, so that the mouthwash can be turned in your mouth, so that all parts of the mouth can be washed and remove food residues and tartar hidden in the gaps, teeth and oral mucosa.
3. Drink more water
Cultivate the habit of actively drinking water and ensure that the amount of water you drink every day should reach about 2000 ml. Bring a kettle at any time when you go out, soak foods that have the effects of promoting salivation, relieving cough and moistening the lungs, such as Ophiopogon japonicus , chrysanthemum or Honeysuckle , etc.
4. Control the time for dentures
. Wear dentures every day should not exceed 8 hours. Clean the dentures frequently; apply water-soluble lip balm on your lips; chew sugar-free chewing gum more often to stimulate saliva secretion; you can also make black plum licorice ice cubes, which can take them before and after meals a day and before going to bed. The specific method is to rinse your mouth with cold boiled water first, then hold the ice cube on your mouth, and rinse it for at least 5 minutes, which can relieve the symptoms of dry mouth and tongue.
Warm reminder
During or after radiotherapy, avoiding beverages containing caffeine and too sweet beverages, such as concentrated juice, Coca-Cola, strong tea, and espresso, etc., to avoid making the thirst problem worse, and at the same time, quit smoking and drinking. Cook food by steaming, stewing and stewing, which can make the food softer and have sufficient moisture content. When eating dryer foods such as steamed buns, biscuits or bread, you can soak them in milk or soup and wait until the food is softened before eating.
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