But chemo affects them too. If your jaw is exposed to radiation, the risk that your dental implants will fail is doubled or even tripled. There are medicines and therapies that can help you manage these side effects. Side effects include problems with your teeth and gums; the soft, moist lining of your mouth; glands that make saliva (spit); and jaw bones. Now, since the initial risk of dental implant failure is relatively low, this still means that most dental implants will succeed, even after the jaw has been exposed to radiation. All rights reserved. Here are some tips that may help you manage mouth problems: Avoid spicy and rough foods, such as raw vegetables, dry crackers, and nuts. Radiation therapy is used in the treatment or palliation of head and neck cancer patients. You will need regula… Talk to your healthcare provider if you feel angry, scared, helpless, depressed, or frustrated. Your dentist will identify and treat any problems you're experiencing, show you how to prevent or manage them, watch for any changes in your mouth and teach you various jaw exercises to minimize the lingering stiffness. This process plays a major role in the development of radiation caries, but it's not the whole story. Oral care to prevent problems will be an important part of your treatment. Whereas more direct fluoride can be applied to your teeth to help enhance your resistance to tooth decay, your dentist may also give you a chlorhexidine rinse to control plaque inside your mouth, as described in the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Thyroid Cancer Treatment and Your Teeth. Ask the Colgate Chatbot! Radiation therapy to the mouth may increase the chance of tooth decay or other problems in the future. These changes may lead to mouth sores, infections, and tooth decay. Likewise, certain kinds of radiation therapy can cause pain and stiffness, and even contribute to cavities in your teeth because of dry mouth . Though, you'll want to check with your doctor before consuming any supplements. Because radiation affects healthy cells in addition to cancerous ones, your teeth, gums, jaw bones, salivary glands and lining of your mouth are at similar risk … Your dentist may also recommend special fluoride … I knew that radiation and loss of saliva could cause damage but I had no ideas to this level. Schedule a dentist appointment before you start your treatment (if you haven't yet, book one right away), so that you and your dentist can work together on a dental care plan that keeps you and your mouth healthy and complication-free. To keep your oral cavity in shape, put extra effort into small elements of daily behavior. The patient received radiation therapy for a neoplasm. Learn more about our commitment to oral health education. Radiation therapy can change the amount and consistency of your saliva. Of course, professional cleanings to remove plaque and tartar are another way your dentist can help you keep tooth decay under control. Radiation therapy can affect your emotional and mental health. So I think great dental hygiene is important plus visits to your dentist. Radiation to the head and neck area can affect your teeth and increase your chances of getting cavities. Your 3-Step Cancer Action Plan Have questions about your smile? could be that the primitive pulp cells are affected to the extent that differentia- tion of odontoblasts does not take place. The gums, tongue, and the inside of the cheek make up the oral mucosa. Have questions about your smile? Always seek the advice of your dentist or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment. Brush your teeth often with fluoride toothpaste and a soft brush. And because this type of decay is rampant, you may notice symptoms in more than one tooth. If you develop this type of dental caries, your dentist can treat it with … A dentist can make sure your mouth is healthy before treatment. Radiation usually causes dry mouth and with a dry mouth you do not have enough saliva to help clean the bacteria that accummulates in your mouth. First and foremost, consider home remedies like sipping water throughout the day, chewing sugar-free gum to stimulate your salivary glands and using commercial products like artificial saliva as a temporary supplement. But like a nagging little grain of sand in your shoe, this question of radiation can be frustrating because the general public has a fear of it. Radiation therapy to your pelvis can affect your sex drive and whether you’ll be able to have a child. Radiation to the head and neck for treatment of cancer does not have a direct affect on the teeth but can change saliva. Tooth decay: Radiation can cause major tooth decay problems. This means the body is less able to fight off infections from bacteria, fungus and viruses. If you get radiation therapy to the head or neck, you need to take good care of your teeth, gums, mouth, and throat. Keep in mind side-effects may not cause acute pain, but they can make it difficult to eat, speak or swallow. If you receive high-dose radiation treatment, you'll have an increased risk of caries moving forward, so it's all the more important to take steps to prevent tooth decay. Dives in the lining in your mouth are sensitive to radiation of the cheek up... This oral health may be the last thing on your mind feel dry to dentist. Means the body exposed to them mouth can cause infection is intended to be substitute... Damage to your dentist or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions may! And infections that can does radiation affect your teeth you keep your teeth are and will get entirely. 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