Dentists for Dental Care For Children in Your Local Area

Your Mouth During Oral Cancer Treatment

Each year, many people are treated for oral cancer. Chemotherapy treatments for cancer and radiation treatment for head and neck cancer often cause oral complications. About half of chemotherapy patients experience oral complications, particularly those being treated for leukemia and those who receive bone marrow transplants.

These oral cancer complications significantly decrease quality of life and can lead to serious systemic problems, complications, septicemia, eating difficulty, nutritional deficiencies, and dehydration. The following are descriptions of oral problems that can occur with cancer treatment:

Infections of the oral cavity can be caused by the usual organisms found in the mouth or by opportunistic organisms not usually found in the mouth. These infections can lead to serious systemic infections. The risk is higher for individuals who have reduced numbers of circulating white blood cells (leukopenia).

Candidiasis is the overgrowth of candida albicans, a fungal organism that normally is found in the mouth.

Musositis is painful and causes problems with eating and speaking. Soft tissues are red, ulcerated, and inflamed. The oral cavity is susceptible to mucositis because of its high cell turnover.

Hemorrhage or bleeding of the oral cavity can occur when clotting factors are affected and during bone marrow suppression.

Xerostomia or dry mouth is associated with decreased, sticky, or thickened saliva. Dry soft tissues are more susceptible to pain, infection, and irritation. Dry mouth is associated with a high number of dental caries.

Altered taste or loss of taste is common and is related to the reduced saliva volume, as well as its altered consistency.

Developmental abnormalities such as altered craniofacial growth and dental/tooth deformities occur with cancer treatment during developmental periods.

Trismus, fibrosis, and scarring of the chewing muscles and temporomandibular joint (TMJ, the joint that moves the lower jaw) that were in the radiation field may make opening the mouth difficult and limited.

Osteoradionecrosis (soft tissue and bone necrosis) can be spontaneous or secondary to trauma, extractions, or dental prostheses. The radiated tissues have reduced blood vessels, decreased cells, and decreased oxygen that predisposes the tissues for years after the radiation therapy to this compromised state that makes oral surgical procedures risky. Therefore, prior to and post oral surgery, patients who have had head and neck radiation may require hyperbaric oxygen treatments and antibiotic therapy to prevent osteoradionecrosis.

Radiation dental caries is a term used for rapid tooth demineralization and severe cavities that occur with head and neck radiation, particularly when the parotid, submandibular, submental, or submaxillary salivary glands are in the radiation field.

Pain accompanies oral infection, mucositis, xerostomia, trismus, dental caries, osteoradionecrosis, candidiasis and dental caries.

To reduce risk for oral cancer complications, a dentist should perform a pretreatment oral examination, as well as necessary dental treatment before initiating chemotherapy or head and neck radiation. It is important that the dentist consult with the physician or oncologist before dental treatment because people who are about to undergo treatments for cancer may be immunosuppressed or thrombocytopenic (blood clotting disorder).

The goals of the dental examination and dental treatment are to eliminate existing or potential oral infection and potential for trauma. Infection, potential infection, and trauma can be associated with soft tissue lesions, decayed or broken teeth, dental implants with poor prognosis, periodontal disease, and poorly fitting full or partial dentures. The oral examination consists of hard and soft tissue examinations, periodontal assessment, and necessary radiographs. Since long-term effects of head and neck cancer radiation treatments will be harmful to the bone in the radiated area (field), patients who undergo head and neck radiation treatment should have teeth and implants with potential for future problems considered for extraction before the cancer treatment begins.

The patient's ability and interest in maintaining oral health, as well as the ability to comply with an oral cancer prevention routine, should be factors that are considered as the dentist develops and discusses dental treatment recommendations with the patient.

By Denise J. Fedele, DMD, MS

Diabetes and Dental Care: Learn Everything You Need To Know

Diabetes, affecting millions of Americans, increases the risk for multiple dental problems. If you are diabetic, be sure your health condition is reflected in your dental records. Your dentist will want to carefully monitor your oral health needs.

Diabetics must pay special attention to the following conditions related to oral health:

Tooth Decay

High glucose levels in saliva help bacteria to thrive, repeatedly attacking teeth with cavity-causing acids. Brushing at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and flossing daily is vital.

Gum Disease

Diabetes reduces the body's resistance to infection and gum tissues are frequently affected. Diabetics may experience more frequent and severe cases of periodontal disease. See your dentist if you notice any of these symptoms: your gums are tender, red, swollen, or bleed easily; your gums have pulled away from the teeth; or you notice any pus between the teeth and gums when the gums are pressed. Other indicators are chronic bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth; any changes in your bite or fit of partial dentures; or permanent teeth that become loose. Since diabetes can impair the healing process, abscesses can develop, so it is important to schedule regular periodontal exams.

Oral Fungal Infections

People with high glucose levels who smoke or frequently take antibiotics are more prone to develop oral candidiasis, or thrush. This is a condition where white or red patches in the mouth become ulcerated and attack the tongue with a painful, burning sensation. Swallowing can be difficult and your ability to taste can be impaired. Antifungal medications can be prescribed by your dentist.

Taste Impairment

A diminished sense of taste can influence food choices. Diabetics have reported that their perception of sweetness is lessened. As a result, selecting sweet-tasting, refined carbohydrate foods puts diabetics at greater risk for developing both general health and dental problems.

Dry Mouth: Diabetic patients often complain about dry mouth due to salivary gland dysfunction related to the disease. Constant dryness irritates the soft tissues causing inflammation and pain. It can also increase the likelihood of tooth decay and gum disease.

Saliva substitutes available in pharmacies can relieve discomfort. Sugarless gum, sugarless mints, and drinking plenty of water also are useful in combating dry mouth. Additionally, restrict consumption of caffeine and alcohol.

Mouth Lesions

Pimple-like sores, generally painless, dot the mouth tissues. In a more severe condition, the tissue becomes painfully ulcerated. No permanent cure is available, but your dentist can prescribe medication to relieve the condition.

Since diabetics are more prone to conditions that jeopardize oral health, regular dental check-ups and periodontal screenings are essential. More frequent evaluations may be needed to ensure optimum oral health.

Bad breath, or halitosis, is a signal that something is not right inside your mouth. It may be as simple as the need to pay more attention to your daily oral hygiene, or it may indicate tooth decay, gum disease, or another medical problem. Whichever it is, bad breath is a red flag: take another look at your mouth!

Bad breath is a social problem; if you have bad breath, you may notice that people actually back away as you talk to them. Mouth odors are embarrassing, and they tell other people that you aren't taking care of yourself. Sometimes people are not aware that their breath smells bad; be alert to how other people react when they're close to you, and be grateful if a friend or family member lets you know about the problem.

Commercial products claim they will make your breath fresher, but the only way to make sure your breath permanently fresh is to practice good oral hygiene. In fact, too many breath mints and hard candies with sugar will lead to tooth decay. If you are constantly using breath mints, breath sprays, or mouth rinses in an effort to cover up your bad breath, realize that you may have a dental or medical problem that needs addressing.

There are a number of reasons you may experience a bad taste in your mouth, and even be able to smell your own breath. Food may be lodged between your teeth if you are not brushing at least twice daily and flossing regularly. Food particles can be very tiny and can wedge themselves between teeth and below the gum line; brushing after meals is important and flossing is imperative to get at the particles that the brush can't reach. Brush your tongue or use a tongue scraper. As odd as it will feel at first, bacteria collects on the tongue and can contribute to bad breath. If you wear removable dentures, take them out at night and clean them thoroughly before you wear them again.

If you neglect your daily hygiene over time, bad breath can become a symptom of more serious dental problems. Teeth that are not cleaned properly become a place for bacteria to reside as food particles stay in your mouth and decay. Bacteria attack your teeth and gums and cause cavities and gum disease. If this is happening, gum disease will cause an unpleasant odor.

Perhaps you believe that you are brushing and flossing on a regular basis, but are still experiencing bad breath. If you have teeth that are crooked or crowded, it may be hard for you to clean between them. If you wear dentures that are not fit properly, they may be trapping food or irritating your mouth. Or perhaps your bad breath is caused by another medical problem: drainage from your sinuses, gastrointestinal problems, kidney or liver problems, or other medical conditions.

Here's what you can do to "investigate" on your own. Write down what you're eating and notice whether your breath smells bad because of certain foods. Garlic and onions actually cause odor, but the odor is coming from your lungs as you breathe, not from your mouth itself. The odor from these foods is temporary, and will be gone once the food is out of your bloodstream.

Are you dieting? Hunger can contribute to bad breath, because of the chemical changes as your body turns fat and protein into the energy it needs. Taking prescription or over-the-counter medications? Add these to the record of what you're eating to see whether there's a relationship between your medications and your bad breath. And don't forget to tell your dentist if there's been a change in your overall health since your last visit.

Suffering from dry mouth? Saliva provides constant rinsing in our mouths and washes away food particles. Your dentist may recommend more liquids, sugarless candy to stimulate natural saliva, and perhaps some of the commercial products that are available to combat dry mouth.

If bad breath continues after you have done your best job of regular brushing and flossing, start with your dentist. He or she can tell you whether the odor is caused by an oral problem; if it is not, then your dentist will suggest you see your doctor for a physical check-up.

Regular dental check-ups will help keep your mouth healthy and working well. Your dentist can spot dental problems before they cause trouble, including problems that cause bad breath.

By Brian J. Gray, DDS, MAGD, FICO