FACIAL PAIN, DENTAL ONCOLOGY AND SLEEP BLOG

Mucositis, an acute but unpleasant oral sequelae of chemotherapy and radiation therapy to the head and neck, is extremely common. There are several proposed treatment modalities for mucositis, but most of the treatments deal with palliative care of the sores. What about treatments to help potentially prevent mucositis? For several years, in Europe and South America, low level LASER therapy (LLLT) has been administered to prophylactically prevent mucositis. How does it work? I

Here are some quick tips for care for your mouth while undergoing cancer therapy: 1. Vomiting. After vomiting, your mouth may feel acidic and sour from the hydrochloric acid that has regurgitated into your mouth. Before reaching for that toothbrush and toothpaste, consider rinsing your mouth with 1/4 teaspon of baking soda in 1 cup of lukewarm water to neutralize the pH of your mouth. Rinse your mouth afterward with water and then brush your teeth. 2. Sore throat and sore mou

Hold on a second, why do my braces need to be removed? Before undergoing high dose chemotherapy, patients are often advised to have their fixed orthodontic appliances, such as braces, removed to help limit the bacterial load in the mouth and to prevent the risk of developing an infection. Nonetheless, this is not always indicated and deciding whether or not to remove braces before undergoing cancer therapy should be discussed with your dentist, orthodontist, and oncologist. W

What is it? Mucositis is inflammation of the mucosa which is lines the gastrointestinal tract. Characterized by mouth sores, intraoral mucosal redness, tissue sloughing, and a burning sensation, mucositis is an acute side effect associated with radiation treatment, chemotherapy, and stem cell transplants. It may affect any tissues in the oral cavity but is more commonly seen on movable mucosa such as the buccal mucosa (cheeks), lips, tongue and soft palate. Not just limited t

There has been a lot of media press lately about the empire state building refusing to go gold for childhood cancer, but how much do you actually know about childhood cancer? Did you know that approximately 15,780 children each year in the United States are diagnosed with cancer? Or that the general category for childhood cancers encompasses 12 types of cancers? The most common childhood cancers include lymphoma, leukemia, brain and other central nervous system tumors, neurob

Our sincere gratitude to Kicking Cancer in the Kitchen for providing this recipe which may be helpful for patients suffering from mouth sores and/or limited mouth opening. Recipe reprinted with permission from KICKING CANCER IN THE KITCHEN © 2012 by Annette Ramke & Kendall Scott, Running Press, a member of the Perseus Books Group Serves 2-3 Ingredients: 2 cups non-dairy milk like almond, coconut 1 cup packed kale leaves, stems removed 1 banana 1/2 avocado ½ teaspoon cinnamon

Xerostomia, the medical term for dry mouth, is a common side effect of head and neck radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Radiation doses of 25 Gy or greater are associated with reduced salivary flow and function. Saliva acts as a natural buffer in the oral cavity, bathing the oral tissues and teeth. Thus, reduced salivary flow can result in an increased risk for dental decay (cavities). Tips to Combat Dry Mouth Hydrate hydrate hydrate. Drinking fluids (water is best) will hel

Individuals undergoing chemotherapy or radiation treatment may experience painful mouth sores (oral mucositis) or ulcers that interfere with eating, speaking, and even swallowing. For some, relief can be found through Magic Mouthwash, the name given to a mouthwash available by prescription. Magic Mouthwash, also referred to as Miracle Mouthwash, is not prepared like traditional mouthwashes. Although available through a prescription, there is not one uniform rinse available at

Certain chemotherapies (vinca alkaloids ie vincristine, vinblastine, etc) may result in neuropathies and mimic a toothache. Wait what? Yes, that's right. Certain chemotherapies can actually result in phantom tooth pain in teeth that have no evidence of dental decay and in areas of the mouth with no evidence of dental infection. Patients may complain of throbbing lower jaw pain. These chemotherapeutic agents are also associated with peripheral neuropathy (tingling and loss of

Although there are side effects associated with chemotherapy, it is important to note that the side effects typically resolve when patients end their treatment. To oversimplify chemotherapy, it interferes with the metabolism and reproduction of tumor cells also known as neoplastic cells. In the process of altering the metabolism and reproduction of these cells, chemotherapy also affects other rapidly dividing cells in the body including the cells responsible for defending the