Although chemotherapy and radiation therapy used in cancer patients is curative, it can cause some side effects in the body. One of these side effects is mucositis. This condition, which describes inflammation in the tissues lining the inside of the mouth, is a very painful process. This prevents the person from fulfilling their daily routines.
Mucositis occurs in about 40% of people receiving chemotherapy. This condition is found in almost all cases of head, neck and mouth cancer. This is because chemotherapy interferes with both bad cells and healthy cells in the body. This makes it inevitable to experience side effects. When this intervention happens to the cells in the mouth, the cells become vulnerable to infection. This leads to mucositis. However, this condition can sometimes only occur in individuals with a very weakened immune system.
Symptoms of Mucositis
Mucositis often occurs within 5-10 days after starting chemotherapy treatment. This leads to some symptoms. These symptoms include:
-Redness, swelling or unexplained pain in the mouth
-Unexplained bleeding in the mouth
-Increased oral mucus and thickening of saliva
-White pus-filled spots in the mouth
-Sores, also known as mouth ulcers or mouth lesions
Mukozit rahatsızlığı diş eti, dil gibi birçok bölgeyi etkileyebilir. Meydana gelen bu problemler kişinin yemek yemesini, yutma refleksini ve konuşmasını zorlaştırır. Aynı zamanda yiyecek ya da içeceklerin intolerans edilmemesi sorununa yol açabilir. Bu da yetersiz beslenmeye ve sürekli sıvı kaybına sebep olur.
Mucositis Disease Treatment
Dentists should be consulted before starting cancer treatment or undergoing any procedure that may result in a weakened immune system. The dentist can help prevent or alleviate the symptoms of this condition. If there is no such intervention before chemotherapy, the dentist can also be consulted after the symptoms appear. Thus, the disease can be eliminated through various treatment methods.
What can be done at home for mucositis?
There are several home remedies that can be used to relieve or alleviate the symptoms caused by mucositis. These methods include the following:
-After chemotherapy, licking pieces of ice or frozen fruit can help protect the tissue in the mouth
-Gargling with salt water can help reduce symptoms.
-Consuming spicy, salty, acidic, acidic, caffeinated, dry or hot foods can cause damage to the mouth.
-Therefore, it is best not to consume such foods.
-Fluid intake is of great importance during these periods. It is necessary to drink more fluids than usual.
-Tobacco products and alcohol are a great danger for both general health and oral health. Therefore, stopping consuming these products is a big step in reducing the effects of mucositis.
