You may have spoken to your doctor about oral mucositis or experienced some of its symptoms. Oral mucositis is a painful complication of xerostomia, or dry mouth, caused by a decreased flow of saliva after radiation and/or chemotherapy. Some of the major functions of saliva include:

• Helping with digestion, taste, chewing, swallowing, and talking
• Protecting teeth from decay
• Protecting the mouth, teeth, and throat from infection caused by bacteria, yeast, and viruses

Oral mucositis is a common side effect of cancer treatments, including chemotherapy and radiation therapy. In fact, the majority of people using these treatments for head and neck cancer will develop the condition.

Chemotherapy and radiation therapy are designed to destroy the cancer cells in your body. However, they can sometimes affect healthy cells, too. When the healthy cells in your mouth are affected, it can lead to the uncomfortable or painful symptoms of oral mucositis. These symptoms will usually begin 7 to 10 days after beginning a cancer treatment.

The effects of oral mucositis can be mild at first, but can progress very quickly—even within a few hours. Severe oral mucositis may make it difficult to eat, drink, or swallow.

You may have experienced symptoms related to oral mucositis, including:

• Pain in your mouth
• Swelling in your mouth or on your tongue
• Dry mouth
• Bleeding gums
• Difficulty speaking or swallowing
• Difficulty eating and drinking
• Dry, cracked, or bleeding lips
• Thick saliva or no saliva
• Redness, white patches, or lesions on the inside of your mouth
• Fever or other signs of infection

Together, you and your doctor can manage oral mucositis. In addition to using an oral rinse, you can also:

• Practice good oral hygiene
• Avoid spicy, acidic, hard, and hot foods or beverages
• Avoid alcohol and sugary lozenges and beverages
• Use mild-flavored toothpastes

Treating your condition effectively can help prevent it from becoming more severe. Severe oral mucositis can cause serious pain or infections, having a major impact on your health and maybe even requiring hospitalization.

Treating oral mucositis adequately involves more than just temporarily soothing the symptoms. Real relief comes from restoring healthy oral conditions and a healthy oral environment.