Mouth care during and after treatment

There are several things you can do to take care of your mouth during and after cancer treatment.

Learn more about:

• Cleaning
• Eating and drinking
• Protect your mouth
• Get professional help

Cleaning

• Rinse your mouth several times a day – ask your treatment team what type of alcohol-free or homemade mouthwash to use and how often to use it.
• If you wear dentures, make sure they fit properly. Take them out after eating and clean them well. Keep them dry when you’re not wearing them.
• Clean your teeth with a soft-bristled toothbrush and replace regularly (at least every 3 months) to prevent infection. Use a mild fluoride toothpaste recommended by your dentist.
• Avoid whitening toothpastes, which may irritate your mouth and gums.
• If your mouth is too sore to brush, or bleeds when you clean your teeth, rinse it using the mouthwashes recommended by your treatment team.

Eating and drinking

• Drink 6–8 glasses of water and fluids throughout the day. Carry a water bottle with you and take frequent sips.
• Limit how much caffeine you drink (e.g. from coffee, tea, energy drinks or soft drinks) and reduce alcohol, as both can increase dryness in the mouth.
• Suck on ice chips or ice blocks, eat soft sugar-free sweets, or try sugar-free chewing gum.
• Eat soft foods that are moist and easy to swallow, such as rice, mashed potatoes, mashed vegetables, tinned fruit, soup, scrambled eggs, yoghurt, custard and minced or slow-cooked meat, chicken or fish. Use gravies and sauces to add flavour and make foods easier to eat.
• Avoid dry, rough or crunchy foods that irritate your mouth (e.g. chips, nuts, toast, crackers), vinegar, spices, salty foods, alcohol, very hot or very cold foods and drinks, and citrus or tangy tomato-based food and juice.
• Drink through a straw if you have mouth sores. Paper or silicone straws may taste better than metal straws.
• If you are eating less or losing weight, choose nourishing drinks like milk, smoothies or nutritional supplements.

Protect your mouth

• Check your mouth, tongue and teeth for changes daily during treatment. Any white spots or pain might mean an infection.
• Consider using a cool mist humidifier at night. This can be helpful if you have a very dry mouth.
• Quit smoking or vaping as it will irritate your mouth and make dryness worse.
• Your dentist may be able to apply fluoride treatments, which can slow any tooth decay.
• Keep lips moist with a lip balm containing beeswax, shea butter, lanolin or plant-based oils. Avoid lip balms based on petroleum jelly.

Get professional help

• Visit your dentist before having treatment for cancer.
• Tell your treatment team if you notice any changes to your mouth – they may prescribe medicines and mouthwashes that can make you more comfortable.
• If you are struggling to eat enough food or you notice you are losing weight, ask to speak to a dietitian.
• Ask a speech pathologist or dietitian what you can eat or drink if you are having difficulty or pain when swallowing food or drink.
• Visit speechpathologyaustralia.org.au to find a speech pathologist and dietitiansaustralia.org.au to find an accredited practising dietitian.
• Talk to your doctor and nurse about medicines to relieve pain and help with healing.

Once I started chemotherapy, I went off my food. My mouth felt very dry, which made food taste unappetising. Adding extra sauce helped.

Helen

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