Keeping Your Teeth Healthy during Cancer Treatments

There is nothing more devastating than finding out you have a disease running rampant through your body that could ultimately kill you without aggressive treatments. That is what cancer patients face when they find out they have to undergo chemo treatments. As bad as that moment is, though, it is important to remember to not let your oral health go during that time.

Before Cancer Treatments

If you are about to undergo treatment, it is extremely important to make an appointment with your dentist before you get your first treatment. This will give your dentist the opportunity to establish a baseline of your teeth’s health and allow him or her to be able to spot any problems much quicker that are a direct result of the treatments.

In the meantime, it is important to continue the basics of a good oral hygiene program. Brushing twice a day, flossing after meals, eating a nutritious diet, and staying hydrated, especially if you are on medications that create dry mouth. If you smoke, stop! Your body will be able to heal much quicker from the treatments if you are not smoking while undergoing them.

During Treatment

In addition to staying on top of your oral health, it is important to do periodic inspections of your mouth to see if there are any problems starting to develop. Also take note of certain conditions that would mean that it is time to make a dental appointment. Some of the concerns to look for are:

• Dry Mouth
  
• Infections
  
• Jaw Pain
  
• Mouth Sores
  
• Sensitive Gums
  
• After Treatments
  

Once the treatments are done, it might be a good idea to continue to see your dentist a bit more than normal. For instance, scheduling a checkup every four months rather than every six months. Your body will have considerable healing to do and we want to make sure you don’t miss anything. Of course, continue the basics of a good oral hygiene routine as discussed earlier.

If you need to make a dentist appointment but are worried about the costs, consider signing up for our NH discount dental planthat will help you save significant money on your dental bills. For more information about these plans or to sign up, click here.