Mouth Care
The cells in the mouth can be affected by chemotherapy and by radiation therapy to the head and neck. Keep the mouth as clean as possible to make the child feel more comfortable and to help avoid any infections from growing in the mouth.
Ways to improve the condition of the mouth:
- Brush teeth after meals and before bed with a soft toothbrush.
- Use alcohol-free mouthwashes. Alcohol dries out the mouth.
- If your child has a dry mouth, give him or her a choice of hard candies.
How to care for mouth sores
While the child is receiving chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy to the head and neck, be aware that the child may develop mouth sores. The inside lining of the mouth and the tongue may be red, and there may be white "plaques" (small raised areas) in the mouth and on the tongue. These plaques are signs of a fungal infection known as thrush.
Strategies to care for mouth sores:
- Avoid hot, spicy or acidic foods.
- Serve foods cold or at room temperature.
- Try foods that are soft, tender or pureed (beaten or blended).
- Cut foods into small pieces.
- Avoid dry or coarse foods.
- Offer a straw for drinking liquids.
- Use alcohol-free mouthwash, and rinse the mouth with water at least four times each day.
- Antifungal medicine may be prescribed to treat the mouth sores. If the mouth sores are painful, pain medicine may also be prescribed.
- Children should be evaluated if they cannot drink fluids, swallow saliva (spit) or if the pain medicine does not help take away the pain.