Attaining Dry Mouth Relief During Cancer Treatment
Many people undergoing treatment for cancer in the head and neck regions may experience dry mouth as a persistent side effect, leading to oral health challenges and difficulties chewing, swallowing, and speaking. In honor of World Cancer Day on February 4, we’re going to discuss the connection between dry mouth and cancer treatments, as well as dry mouth management options to ease some of life’s daily hurdles.
The Dry Mouth-Cancer Connection
Dry mouth in people with cancer is not typically due to the cancer itself; the condition often stems from radiation or chemotherapy targeting the head and neck regions, close to the location of the salivary glands. The salivary glands are then damaged and unable to produce sufficient saliva or high-quality saliva. The damage is frequently dependent on the dosage and can be long-lasting or even permanent, particularly when the major salivary glands (parotid, submandibular, and sublingual) receive higher doses.
As radiation therapy and chemotherapy are vital treatments for cancer survival, foregoing them is not an option. Instead, anyone experiencing dry mouth as a side effect of cancer treatments should try to alleviate the discomfort. This means seeking a solution to the lack of saliva.
Saliva: The Unsung Hero of Daily Oral Comfort
The vital role of saliva often goes unnoticed when the body is working properly, but when the salivary glands start to malfunction, a host of side effects ensue. Saliva is crucial for lubricating the mouth, beginning digestion, protecting teeth and oral tissues, and maintaining a healthy oral environment. When salivary gland function is impaired by radiation or chemotherapy, oral health begins to deteriorate. Patients frequently experience dry, sore throats, sticky or thick saliva, burning sensations, cracked lips, difficulty swallowing, changes in taste, and a significantly higher risk of dental decay and oral infections.
While dry mouth may seem like an innocuous challenge compared to some other side effects of cancer treatment, oral health problems can significantly detract from one’s quality of life. Daily activities like eating and talking suddenly become burdensome, worrisome chores. Food loses its taste, and even carrying on a conversation can seem like an insurmountable struggle.
This is why seeking dry mouth treatment is so important; not only can it minimize the risk of oral diseases and dental problems, but it can significantly improve your quality of life.
Dry Mouth Treatment to Activate Saliva Production
During or after cancer treatments, complete restoration of salivary function is not always possible, but a variety of long-term relief strategies can improve daily comfort and well-being.
- Electrostimulation
Intraoral electrostimulation via the SaliPen is a drug-free, FDA-cleared dry mouth treatment. The SaliPen delivers gentle, targeted electrical impulses that activate the natural salivary reflex, encouraging saliva production from remaining functional gland tissue without medications or invasive procedures.
- Prescription Medications
For some patients, prescription drugs like pilocarpine or cevimeline can stimulate salivary gland tissue to increase natural saliva production. These medications are typically effective, but can induce unpleasant side effects, a headache people already undergoing difficult cancer treatments don’t need. Additionally, these medications may be contraindicated with others, making it crucial to consult your doctor before taking them.
Dry Mouth Remedies and Lifestyle Adjustments for Everyday Dry Mouth Management
Saliva substitutes (sprays, gels, and mouthwashes) offer temporary lubrication, easing pain and discomfort through artificial hydration. Saliva substitutes can make daily activities like
speaking, eating, and sleeping more comfortable.
Additionally, following lifestyle habits can serve to mitigate the effects of dry mouth:
- Sipping water frequently throughout the day and keeping a bottle next to your bed (dry mouth often gets worse at night)..
- Chewing sugar-free gum or sucking on sugar-free lozenges.
- Avoiding triggering substances such as caffeine, alcohol, tobacco, and sugar.
- Practicing meticulous oral hygiene, including daily brushing and flossing.
- Using a cool-mist humidifier at night to add moisture to the air.
While not a cure for dry mouth, these habits can prevent serious complications like rampant tooth decay and oral infections, which are much more common when natural saliva is reduced.
Before starting any new treatment or medication, it’s important to consult your oncologist or oral health specialist.
Looking Toward the Future
Dry mouth affects roughly 20% of the global population, and as such, is the subject of many scientific studies. Promising treatment advances include the world’s first biobank for regenerating salivary tissues, photobiomodulation therapy to accelerate tissue repair using wavelengths of red and near-infrared light from lasers or LEDs, and a natural citrus essential oil combination to relieve dry mouth in cancer patients without serious adverse effects.
Additionally, IMRT (Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy) is being used more for head and neck cancer treatment; this therapy targets the cancer more meticulously and reduces the impact on the salivary glands.
As research continues, we can expect more advances and relief for those experiencing dry mouth due to cancer treatments. For now, the main options – electrostimulation, medication, saliva substitutes, and lifestyle habits – can significantly reduce the severity and discomfort of dry mouth symptoms. leading to an improved quality of life and comfort during daily activities.
FAQs
Does cancer cause dry mouth?
Cancer usually doesn’t cause dry mouth; its treatments do. Radiation therapy and chemotherapy that target cancer in the head and neck regions can cause dry mouth by damaging the salivary glands and causing them to malfunction.
How long does dry mouth last after head and neck radiation or chemotherapy?
Dry mouth often begins during treatment and can persist for months or even become permanent. The persistence of dry mouth depends on the individual and their treatment dosage.
Is dry mouth dangerous?
Dry mouth isn’t life-threatening, but it can lead to serious complications like rampant tooth decay, oral infections, gum disease, and difficulty eating or speaking. Treating it can improve comfort and alleviate pain; for people undergoing cancer treatment, every pain-free moment is a triumph.
Why is seeking dry mouth treatment important?
Many people with dry mouth feel self-conscious about cracked lips, bad breath, or difficulty speaking clearly; this can lead to avoiding meals with family or friends, skipping social events, and feeling isolated during an already challenging time. But when dry mouth is managed effectively, patients often report feeling more confident, enjoying food again, and reconnecting with loved ones more easily.
Can electrostimulation devices like SaliPen really help during or after cancer treatment?
Yes, intraoral electrostimulation (i.e., SaliPen) is a drug-free, clinically-proven, and FDA-cleared dry mouth treatment. It works by delivering gentle electrical impulses to activate the salivary reflex and encourage natural saliva production from any functional gland tissue. It’s especially useful for long-term management and has no adverse side effects.
Are there any natural dry mouth remedies?
There are many lifestyle habits you can implement naturally to ease dry mouth symptoms: drinking water, chewing sugar-free gum, and avoiding nicotine, caffeine, and alcohol. While these habits might mitigate dry mouth symptoms, they’re not a cure. They’re most effective when used in combination with a clinical dry mouth treatment, such as SaliPen or medication.
How can I manage dry mouth at night?
When the sun goes down, the body naturally produces less saliva, which can make dry mouth symptoms worse during the nighttime. Use a bedside water bottle, a cool-mist humidifier, and saliva substitutes to relieve dry mouth at night.
