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Cancer Treatment and Oral Health

What Are Oral Complications of Cancer Therapy?

Most people are aware of common side effects of cancer treatment like nausea and hair loss. But many don't realize that more than one-third of people treated for cancer develop complications that affect the mouth. These problems may interfere with cancer treatment and diminish the patient's quality of life.

Head and neck radiation, chemotherapy, and blood and marrow transplantation can cause oral complications ranging from dry mouth to life-threatening infections.

What Can Be Done to Reduce Their Risk and Impact?

The publication series "Oral Health, Cancer Care, and You" informs health care providers and patients about steps they can take before, during and after cancer treatment to reduce the risk and impact of these often painful side effects. The 12-piece series includes fact sheets and laminated pocket guides for dental and cancer professionals, patient education publications in both English and Spanish, and a wallet card for patients with space for the names and contact information of their health care team.

To learn more about managing and preventing oral complications of cancer treatment, please see the publications below:

Oral Health, Cancer Care, and You Series

For health professionals

Oral Care Provider's Reference Guide for Oncology Patients (also printer-friendly PDF version (219 KB))
Provides a quick reference on treating patients before, during, and after cancer treatment. It includes questions to ask the patient's oncology team before cancer treatment begins.
Oncology Reference Guide to Oral Health (also printer-friendly PDF version (202 KB))
Provides a quick reference on preventing and managing oral complications before, during, and after cancer treatment. It includes steps specific to chemotherapy, radiation treatment, and blood and marrow transplantation.
Oral Complications of Cancer Treatment: What the Dental Team Can Do (also printer-friendly PDF version (469 KB))
Discusses preventing and managing complications common to a patient's cancer treatment. Also included is the role of dental professionals before, during, and after treatment.
Oral Complications of Cancer Treatment: What the Oncology Team Can Do (also printer-friendly PDF version (437 KB))
Discusses the importance of dental treatment before a patient's cancer treatment begins and steps to prevent and manage oral complications. It includes management strategies specific to chemotherapy, radiation treatment, and bone marrow transplantation.

For patients

Chemotherapy and Your Mouth (also printer-friendly PDF version (482 KB))
Discusses how chemotherapy affects the mouth and the importance of seeing a dentist before, during, and after treatment. Also included are self-care tips for patients to keep their mouth healthy during treatment.
Head and Neck Radiation Treatment and Your Mouth (also printer-friendly PDF version (524 KB))
Discusses how radiation affects the mouth and the importance of seeing a dentist before, during, and after cancer treatment. Also included are self-care tips for patients to keep their mouth healthy during treatment.
Three Good Reasons to See a Dentist BEFORE Cancer Treatment (also printer-friendly PDF version (196 KB))
Discusses reasons to see a dentist before cancer treatment, how to protect the mouth during treatment, and advice on when to call the cancer care team about mouth problems. Self-care tips are also provided.
Three Good Reasons to See a Dentist BEFORE Cancer Treatment (Pictograph); (also printer-friendly PDF version (1.08 MB)) Illustrated booklet for adults with reading skills at the 2nd grade level or below. It includes reasons to see a dentist before cancer treatment, how to protect the mouth during treatment, and advice on when to call the cancer care team about mouth problems. Self-care tips are also provided.

For patients in Spanish

Quimioterapia y la boca (also printer-friendly PDF version (581 KB))
Spanish version of "Chemotherapy and Your Mouth." It discusses how chemotherapy affects the mouth and the importance of seeing a dentist before, during, and after treatment. Also included are self-care tips for patients to keep their mouth healthy during treatment.
Su boca y el tratamiento de radiación en la cabeza y el cuello (also printer-friendly PDF version (968 KB))
Spanish version of "Head and Neck Radiation Treatment and Your Mouth." It discusses how radiation affects the mouth and the importance of seeing a dentist before, during, and after cancer treatment. Also included are self-care tips for patients to keep their mouth healthy during treatment.
Tres buenas razones para ver a un dentista ANTES de comenzar el tratamiento contra el cáncer (also printer-friendly PDF version (575 KB))
Spanish version of "Three Good Reasons to See a Dentist BEFORE Cancer Treatment." It discusses reasons to see a dentist before cancer treatment, how to protect the mouth during treatment, and advice on when to call the cancer care team about mouth problems. Self-care tips are also provided.