Dry Mouth
Learn about dry mouth in people with cancer in this guide from The ONE Group (Oncology – Nutrition – Exercise) at Penn State College of Medicine.
What you should know
What is dry mouth?
Dry mouth is when there is not enough saliva or saliva becomes very thick, causing your mouth to become dry.Dry mouth can increase your chances of getting cavities and a mouth infection.Dry mouth can become worse if you smoke, drink alcohol or chew tobacco.
Signs of dry mouth
White saliva in and outside of mouth
Thick saliva that sticks to lips
Trouble swallowing foods
Burning tongue
Mouth always open to breathe
Tongue looks cracked
Bits of food on tongue and gums
Causes of dry mouth in cancer patients
Radiation therapy to the head or neck
Some types of chemotherapy
Anti-depressants and pain medications
Dehydration
What you can do: Preventing dry mouth
Preventing dry mouth
Try foods and liquids that will prevent dry mouth.
Drink water often to keep mouth wet.
Use lip balm.
Rinse or spray mouth using artificial saliva, which can be found in drug stores.
Avoid using tobacco and drinking alcohol.
Avoid mouthwash that contains alcohol.
Foods to try
Sugar-free hard candy
Frozen desserts
Cereal soaked in milk
Ice chips
Smoothies
Soft foods
Sugar-free gum
Yogurt
Apples
Carrots
Popsicles
Soup
Foods to avoid
Pretzels
Hot wings
Chili peppers
Peanut butter
Chewy candy
Tough meats
Recipe
Apple Smoothie
Ingredients:
1 apple
½ cup milk
⅓ cup plain yogurt
1 tbsp. honey
5 almonds
Directions:
Peel and cut apple into fourths.
Put chopped-up apple and almonds into blender.
Add the milk, honey and yogurt.
Blend until there are no chunks.
Notes
References
American Cancer Society
Cleveland Clinic
National Cancer Institute
U.S National Library of Medicine