Oral care is important as it affects the quality of life of a person.
| Oral care | Food | When to be alert doctor |
|---|---|---|
| Maintain good oral hygiene | Avoid spicy foods | If there are ulcers |
| 100ml of lukewarm water + pinch of salt + pinch of baking soda is mixed and used to gargle before and after meals | Avoid eating hot foods (temperature) | If there is difficulty swallowing, abdominal pain, abdominal discomfort |
| Keep your lips moist with water-based lip gels | Keep mouth moist with frequent sips of water | If there is bleeding in mouth, if there is increased diarrhoea |
| Change old habits such as smoking | Eat frequently, small amounts | If oral intake has decreased If urine output is decreasing |
| If you are having radiation, please use the gargles given by your radiation oncologist The protocols are tedious, but it is important to follow them | ||
What are the problems affect the mouth?
Mouth is a very important part of our body. It is where we taste our food, feel thirst and speak. Anything that causes a change in the balance of the saliva in our mouth can cause discomfort and problems that distress. These can affect any individual. Some of them are:
- Dry mouth
- Burning in the mouth and lack of taste
- Bleeding gums and Smell in the mouth
- Ulcers and infections in the mouth
Dry Mouth
Saliva in the mouth keeps our mouth moist and is produced by glands in the mouth called salivary glands. If the production is less, then the mouth can go dry.
Caused By:
Mouth breathing, drinking less water, anxiety, smoking, chewing tobacco, diabetes, conditions that affect the salivary glands.
How Does It Affect You:
Lack of taste, disturbed sleep, difficulty in chewing and swallowing, ulcers in the mouth, difficulty in talking to others, bad smell in the mouth. Sometimes, it can cause a fungal infection called candidiasis.
Burning in mouth and lack of taste
Any part of the mouth can be affected – lips, gums, inner cheeks, palate, throat. The taste buds are on the tongue and our taste depends on the taste buds working well. Sometimes, these are damaged
Caused By:
Dry mouth, fungal infection, nutritional deficiencies, allergies, intense gastritis, with regurgitation to the mouth, poor oral hygiene, diabetes, anxiety.
How Does It Affect You:
You could have difficulty in eating, intense loss of taste in the mouth, bitterness, stinging even to water, difficulty in sleeping at night.
Bleeding Gums and Bad smell in mouth
Caused By:
Poor oral hygiene, plaque causing irritation and swelling of the gums, vitamin deficiencies, some illnesses that cause bleeding.
How Does It Affect You:
Pain in the mouth, burning in the mouth, difficulty in chewing, makes social speaking difficult, bad smell in mouth, infections if not treated. If there is constant, easy bleeding from gums, you should visit your doctor and dentist at the earliest.
Ulcers and infections in the mouth
The saliva and the mucous content in the mouth keep the mouth healthy. Any of the above conditions can cause the protective layers to be destroyed. Our mouth normally has bacteria in it. When this protective layer is destroyed, ulcers can happen and these can worsen due to the bacteria in the mouth.
Caused By:
Vigorous brushing of teeth, cleaning gums with metal cleaners, injury due to dental appliances, dentures, sensitivity to certain foods, vitamin deficiencies, stress, it can be an indication of illness that require immediate attention such as herpes infection, celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, diabetes mellitus and issues with the immune system.
How Does It Affect You:
Pain in the mouth, burning in mouth, difficulty in chewing, smelly breath, difficulty in speaking, increased salivation, sleep disturbance, emotional distress.
Care of the mouth:
- Ensure brushing at least twice a day
- Use toothpaste that has a minimum of 1350 parts per million of fluoride. This information is on the labels of toothpaste.
- Drink plenty of water
- Rinse mouth well after meals
- Speak to your dentist regarding foods to be avoided according to your dental health
- If any of the above conditions are present contact your doctor immediately
- Have a regular consultation with your dentist
Care for Dentures:
- Clean dentures daily.
- Remove at night and whenever possible to expose gums to air.
- Loose fitting dentures can irritate the mouth and gums and should not be worn.
- Do not wear dentures if mouth sores are severe.
