Cancer and Dental Health

Recently we attended the Sister Network’s Annual National African American Breast Cancer Conference. It was held at the Intercontinental Hotel in Houston, TX and the finale was a “Stop the Silence Walk” for breast cancer. Our main goal for attending the conference was not only to support Karen Jackson, but also to educate women on chemotherapy and dental health. We spoke to about sixty women and only one out of sixty had any previous knowledge about the effects that chemotherapy has on ones teeth. Though our communication with these women was short, many of them appreciated what we told them some of them wished that they would have had more knowledge about the effects of treatment on the teeth before they went through chemotherapy. Most women after chemo explained that they have had many dental problems which resulted in extensive and costly some cosmetic dentistry done. Many didn’t have any problems before the chemotherapy so they felt as though the procedures were responsible for the changes in their dental health. Some of the information we shared with them is that chemotherapy affects the glands in your mouth that produce saliva. As part of the initial process of food digestion, the enzymes in the saliva break down some of the starch and fat in the food at the molecular level. Saliva also breaks down food caught in the teeth, protecting them from bacteria that cause decay. Furthermore, saliva lubricates and protects the teeth, the tongue, and the tender tissues inside the mouth. So you can see why not being able to produce saliva can be very harmful to someone’s oral health. You are advised to see your dentist at least 2 weeks before you start chemotherapy our suggestion is that as soon as you are diagnosed with cancer you schedule a consultation with your dentist. If you have any dental issues you will have them fixed immediately and then get instructions for how to care for your teeth during chemotherapy. It shouldn’t stop there! Periodic visits to your dentist during chemotherapy can also help. A dentist can provide you with fluoride treatment that can help prevent decay, give you medication that can help stimulate your salivary glands, give you a possible saliva substitute, offer suggestions to replace minerals in your teeth or even prescribe different rinses to help fight infection. Additionally instruct you to use Sensodyne or a non abrasive tooth paste, fluoride gels and soft bristle tooth brushes. Ulceration of the oral mucus is a sequelae associated with changes in the oral microflora and lack of saliva production. Mucositis may be caused by either radiation therapy or chemotherapy. Mucositis is an inflammation of mucous membranes in the mouth. This can cause pain, infection, bleeding and the inability to breathe or eat normally. In patients receiving chemotherapy, mucositis will heal by itself, usually in 2 to 4 weeks when there is no infection. Mucositis caused by radiation therapy usually lasts 6 to 8 weeks, depending on the duration of treatment. Swishing ice chips in the mouth for 30 minutes may help prevent mucositis from developing in patients who are given fluorouracil. Medication may be given to help prevent mucositis or keep it from lasting as long in patients who undergo high-dose chemotherapy. Care of mucositis during chemotherapy and radiation therapy focuses on cleaning the mouth and relieving the symptoms. Treatment of mucositis caused by either radiation therapy or chemotherapy is generally the same. After mucositis has developed, proper treatment depends on its severity and the patient's white blood cell count. Anyone who is suffering from cancer needs the support of their dentist to help them with their oral health. There are studies being conducted that will hopefully one day allow dentist to do a non invasive test, with saliva to detect breast cancer. This way women who routinely visit their dentist will be able to do a test that can help the save their life.