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Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery

How Cancer Affects Oral Health

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How Cancer Affects Oral Health

There are some medical treatments that have side effects on other parts of the body, such as the mouth. As dentists, we want to tell you how cancer affects oral health and how you can treat the problems that you may face.

Medical conditions that affect the health of your mouth

Many of the medications and methods used to treat various diseases affect your oral health. Some of these treatments are:

  • Diabetes medications
  • Drugs to treat heart problems
  • Chemotherapy
  • Radiotherapy
  • Treatments for endocrine disorders
  • Medications for kidney conditions
  • Treatments against immune system disorders

How cancer affects oral health

A large number of cancer treatments can seriously affect the health of your gums, teeth and your mouth in general. These conditions can cause a lot of discomfort when chewing, talking or swallowing if they are not treated properly.

Side effects of cancer on oral health

Some of the side effects of cancer that can affect your mouth are the following:

Cancer Affects Oral Health
  • Saliva thicker than usual
  • Dry mouth
  • Mouth sores
  • Increases the likelihood of tooth decay
  • Changes in the sense of taste
  • Infections in the gums and other areas of the mouth
  • Bone diseases that affect the teeth and jaw
  • Inflammation, redness and even pain in the tongue and lining of the mouth

Usually these effects appear when you are in an advanced stage of cancer treatment. Some are temporary and disappear after the treatment is completed. While others can be much more durable and even permanent.

Causes

Although not all cancer treatments affect the health of your mouth, a large percentage of them do. Studies have shown that the process of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and some surgeries alter the balance of bacteria in the mouth. This can damage and even begin to break down oral tissue, salivary glands and bone. What causes tooth decay, mouth ulcers, sores and infections.

The processes that carry the most side effects are:

  • Radiation therapy in the head and neck
  • Chemotherapy
  • Bone marrow and stem cell transplant
  • Pharmacological therapy

How to prevent the effects of treatments

If before starting any cancer treatment you have good oral health, the risks of suffering any condition in your mouth decreases. We recommend you go to the dentist a few weeks before starting your treatment. During your visit to the specialist, be sure to ask him to carry out the following work depending on your case:

  • Treat and repair all fractured teeth, with cavities or suffering from any infection.
  • If you have dental implants or dentures, check if it fits well and does not cause any discomfort.
  • If you have fixed orthodontics it is best to have them removed. Rubbing these with the mouth can cause discomfort and irritation.

You should also consider:

  • Provide all possible information about your dental treatments to the oncologist and cancer treatments to a specialist in general dentistry. In this way they can work together to contribute to your oral health.
  • If you underwent dental surgery you must wait two weeks or until the wounds of your mouth heal completely to start an oncological treatment.
  • If you did not visit your dentist before starting your cancer treatments, go as soon as possible.
  • Maintain good communication with your dentist throughout dental treatment in patients with chemotherapy.

 

Four Signs That Indicate Tooth Cavity

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Four Signs That Indicate Tooth Cavity

The health of one’s teeth is key to their overall health. Preventing cavities and tooth decay is one of the essential ways to keep the teeth healthy as well as the condition and to avoid other complications. According to the statistic of the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention), 30% of American adults have untreated tooth cavities. Untreated cavities can damage the teeth and probably create more serious dental issues.

Tooth Cavity

When food and bacteria build up in the teeth, it can develop plaque. The plaque bacteria produce acids that can wear away the enamel on the surface of the teeth. With a regular flossing and brushing routine, you can get rid of the tooth cavity and sticky plaque. If the plaque enabled to build up, it would continue to eat away at the teeth and create a cavity or other dental problems.  Here are a couple of the most common signs that a person may have a tooth cavity.

Signs of a Tooth Cavity

There are many possible signs that may indicate the beginning of the cavity. There are also numerous red alerts that are signs of an existing cavity is getting larger.

Cold and Hot Sensitivity

A sensitivity that lingers after ingesting cold or hot food and beverages can be a sign that a person has a cavity. When the enamel of the tooth begins to erode, it can affect the dentin, which is the tough tissue layer under the enamel. When there is not enough enamel to secure the dentin, beverages, or foods that are sticky, cold, hot, and acidic can stimulate the cells as well as nerve inside the tooth. It creates sensitivity.

Toothache

Ongoing pain in one or more of the teeth can also a sign of a cavity. In short, the ache is one of the most common symptoms of a tooth cavity. Sometimes this pain can come on suddenly, and it can occur as an outcome of something you ingest. It includes discomfort and pain in or around the mouth or feels ache and pressure while biting down on food.

Staining on Tooth

Stains on the tooth may initially appear as white spots. The stains can become darker, or tooth decay becomes more advanced. Staining caused by a cavity can be black, white, or brown, and typically seems on the surface of the tooth.

 A Pit or Hole in the Mouth

If the white spots are seen on the teeth, it’s a red alert and end up with a pit or hole in the tooth that you can see while looking in the mirror or feel while you run your tongue over the surface of the teeth. A couple of holes, especially amid the teeth or in gaps, can’t felt or seen. But then again, you might feel sensitivity or pain in the area of the cavity. In order to protect your teeth from such serious dental issues, you need to make an appointment to visit your dentist as soon as possible.

 

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