Dental health and radiation therapy: What you should know?

One of the most commonly used methods of cancer treatment is radiation therapy. As with any therapy, this one may also cause side effects. Those located in the oral cavity are of particular concern to patients undergoing head and neck radiation therapy. The most common complications include mucositis, dysgeusia, salivation disorders, and bone necrosis. Dental care should be introduced before the commencement of oncological treatment, in particular radiotherapy, and then continued both during and after its completion.

Salivary glands

The salivary glands are responsible for the production of saliva in the body. For oral health, these organs are very important, as saliva has numerous important functions. The first one is active participation in the digestive process — it makes it easier to swallow food, and the digestive enzymes contained in it initially break down the nutrients. In addition, saliva protects teeth against the formation of caries by washing out the remains of food, as well as by its natural bactericidal properties.

Unfortunately, its properties change during radiation therapy — the salivary glands are an organ that is particularly exposed to radiation. During radiotherapy, saliva becomes very dense, and therefore also sticky and stringy. Radiotherapy also contributes to the bacterial imbalance in the oral cavity, which is a result of the weakening of the protective properties of saliva. This condition can cause a variety of complications.

Radiation caries

An imbalance in the saliva can cause dryness, which increases the risk of cavities. It should be remembered that radiation therapy itself is not a direct cause of its occurrence. Caries may develop 4-6 months after the end of treatment. The course of radiation caries is very aggressive — it attacks all teeth and progresses very quickly. Due to the lack of saliva protection, development starts from the tooth neck and gradually covers the rest of the crown.

Infections

The weakening of the properties of saliva is also associated with a reduction in its defense functions, which protect against various types of infections. As a result of radiation therapy, bacterial, viral and fungal inflammations often develop. In each of the above-mentioned cases, immediate treatment is necessary. How does such an infection manifest? The most common symptoms are reddening of the mucosa and inflammation of the gums, which turn intensely red, are swollen and cause pain. In the later stages of the disease development, erosions may develop.

Mouth dryness

Changing the consistency and properties of saliva can contribute to a dry mouth feeling. Patients suffering from this ailment usually also experience increased thirst and may have problems swallowing food. To reduce discomfort, you should drink water frequently to keep your body hydrated. In addition, it is also a good idea to suck on sugar-free lozenges and candies, which can additionally stimulate salivation. A good way to keep the mouth moist are linseed infusion rinses, which have moisturizing properties.

How to prevent the side effects of cancer treatment?

Some side effects cannot be prevented, but you can make sure that they do not affect your daily functioning. For this purpose, it is necessary to remain under constant dental care. The first visit should take place several weeks before the start of oncological treatment. It is necessary to assess the condition of oral cavity and dentition. In case of detecting abnormalities that may later cause infection and further health complications, it is necessary to implement the so-called sanitation. Sanitation simply means removal of all potential inflammatory foci from the oral cavity.

Radiotherapy of the head and neck carries a significant risk of cavities that may appear over a very short period of time. For this reason, it is very important that people remain under the constant care of a dentist and report for control visits as often as possible.

In addition to visiting the dentist, it is also necessary to take care of your teeth on your own — at home, by maintaining proper oral hygiene. You can read more about oral health in our article: Oral and Dental Care for Cancer Patients: Why is it important?