Mouth and Throat Changes

"My mouth felt sore. I let my nurse know right away. He told me about medicine that can help. He also showed me how to make a mouth rinse to use each day."

Tell your doctor or nurse if you have:

• Changes in taste or smell
  
  
• Dry mouth
  
  
• Pain when you eat hot or cold foods

Take these steps to feel better.

Clean your mouth with care.

• Brush your teeth and tongue after each meal and before you go to bed. Use a very soft toothbrush.
  
  
• Use toothpaste or gel that has fluoride and baking soda in it.
  
  
• Rinse your mouth with the baking soda, salt, and water mix in the box below.

Keep your mouth and lips moist.

• Use a lip balm, such as ChapStick®.
  
  
• Sip water or suck ice chips.
  
  
• Try drinking through a straw.

Eat soft, bland foods.

• Choose foods that are soft, wet, and easy to swallow.
  When your mouth is sore, try cooked cereals, mashed potatoes, and scrambled eggs.
  
  
• Soften food with gravy, sauce, or other liquids.
  
  
• Let food cool down if hot food hurts your mouth.

Don't have things that can make your mouth hurt.

• Don't drink orange, lemon, tomato, or grapefruit juice.
  
  
• Don't drink alcohol, such as beer or wine.
  
  
• Don't eat crunchy or spicy foods.
  
  
• Don't have foods or drinks that have sugar in them, such as candy and soft drinks.
  
  
• Don't smoke cigarettes or use other tobacco products.

Questions to ask your doctor or nurse:

1. What problems should I call you about?
   
   
2. What foods and drinks should I have?
   
   
3. Can we make the baking soda, salt, and water mix together?
   
   
4. If brushing hurts, what are other ways that I can clean my mouth?
   
   
5. What medicines can help?

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