GARDEN ROUTE | KAROO NEWS - October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and although your oral hygiene may not seem like a priority when you are battling cancer, about a third of patients will experience oral complications. 

Mouth ulcers, dry mouth, cracked lips and dental disease are top of the list.

“Chemotherapy, other medications and radiation can upset the balance of bacteria in your mouth, limit your body’s ability to fight infection and dry out the mouth,” says Dirna Grobbelaar, Ivohealth oral hygiene advisor.

“Unfortunately this can make you more susceptible to cavities, gum disease and infections. Maintaining an effective oral care routine is important for your overall health and well-being, even when you’re not feeling well.”

To help you take good care of your mouth during cancer treatment, Ivohealth has compiled easy-to-follow advice from dental and other medical professionals in a guide Love your Life, Love your Oral Care which can be downloaded for free. 

Grobbelaar shares some of the most important advice:

• Dry Mouth

A dry mouth, medically known as xerostomia, is a common side-effect of many medications and radiation. Because saliva is the body’s way of naturally cleaning the mouth, plaque and bacteria build up more quickly, putting you at higher risk of bleeding gums, bad breath and dental decay.

Rehydrating your mouth is a priority. Drinking water will give temporary relief; an oral lubricator like GUM Hydral spray and gel will last longer. Chewing sugar-free gum can stimulate saliva flow and some medications can help produce saliva; ask your pharmacist or healthcare professional for advice.

• Mouth Ulcers

Many cancer patients experience mouth ulcers which make eating, talking and cleaning the mouth uncomfortable. Use Aloclair gel or spray to create a ‘barrier’ over the ulcer for immediate relief and promote faster healing. And don’t be tempted to skip your oral care routine because your mouth is sore; keeping it clean can help prevent further infection.

•  Cracked Lips

Protect your lips with a lubricating barrier to prevent them from becoming dry and cracked. Licking your lips can exacerbate dryness. Rather regularly apply a moisturising balm, like Letibalm nose and lip repair, and drink plenty of fluids to keep the mouth and skin hydrated.

• Dental Problems

Gum disease, dental decay and cavities are all common dental problems during cancer treatment. These are best prevented with an effective daily oral care routine and professional support. Visit your dentist for a thorough check-up before your treatment starts, to detect and treat any existing issues. See the oral hygienist for a professional cleaning at the same time. Removing plaque and tartar build-up means your mouth is in tip-top shape at the onset.

Some patients experience nausea during treatment. Vomiting demineralises teeth enamel and weakens the teeth. Don’t brush your teeth immediately after vomiting. Simply rinse with water or an alcohol-free mouthwash with fluoride, like Dentyl Active or GUM Paroex with antibacterial CPC, then wait an hour or so before brushing.

 Recommended Daily Oral Care Routine during Cancer Treatment

A few minor adjustments to your daily oral care can make it easier and more effective. Here’s the routine recommended during cancer treatment by Dirna Grobbelaar, Ivohealth’s oral hygiene advisor:

1. Brush correctly at least twice a day for a full two minutes each time. You may be tired. A quality electric brush, like Philips Sonicare or GUM Sonic, will give a ‘supreme clean’ with minimum effort. Dip the brush in warm water to soften the bristles, or use an ultra-soft brush like GUM Sonic Sensitive.
2. Look for mild or pleasant-tasting toothpaste that has multiple benefits. GUM Paroex Intensive Action has anti-bacterial ingredients to help maintain healthy gums. All-natural Olgani Probiom toothpaste and tooth powder have added prebiotics and probiotics for a balanced oral microbiota.
3. Continue to clean between the teeth every day. If you find floss too firm for sensitive gums, try an interdental brush like the reusable GUM Bi-Direction with anti-bacterial coated bristles, or gentle rubber Soft-Picks.
4. After eating or being sick, rinse with an alcohol-free mouthwash like GUM Paroex with antibacterial CPC or Dentyl Active, or use a salt-based mouth rinse like Thryve mouth salts or Olgani.

While cancer treatment can negatively impact your mouth, the right care can help you prevent or manage many of the common problems. Remember, your dental professional is available to support you at this time. Let them know about your diagnosis and treatment.

For further information visit Ivohealth’s website or download Ivohealth’s free Cancer and Oral Care booklet. The Cancer Association of South Africa website also has excellent resources.

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Kankerbehandeling en mondsorg: ? kundige gee raad 

TUINROETE | KAROO NUUS - Oktober is Borskankerbewustheidsmaand, en hoewel mondhigiëne dalk nie na ’n prioriteit klink terwyl kanker beveg word nie, ondervind sowat ’n derde van pasiënte mondprobleme as gevolg van kankerbehandeling. Mondsere, droë mond, gebarste lippe en tandbederf is bo-aan die lys.

“Chemoterapie, ander medikasie en bestraling kan die balans van die bakterieë in jou mond versteur, wat jou liggaam se vermoë beperk om infeksie te beveg en die mond uitdroog,” sê Dirna Grobbelaar, Ivohealth se raadgewer oor mondhigiëne. “Ongelukkig kan dit jou meer vatbaar maak vir tandbederf, tandvleissiekte en infeksies. Om ? doeltreffende mondsorgroetine te handhaaf, is belangrik vir jou algehele gesondheid en welstand, selfs al voel jy nie goed nie.”

Om jou te help om goed na jou mond te kyk tydens kankerbehandeling, het Ivohealth advies van tandheelkundiges en ander mediese kenners saamgevat in ? gebruikersvriendelike gids getitel Love your Life, Love your Oral Care wat gratis afgelaai kan word. 

Grobbelaar deel van die belangrikste inligting daarin hier:

• Droë mond

? Droë mond, wat in mediese terme as xerostomie bekend staan, is ? algemene newe-effek van baie medikasies en bestraling. Omdat speeksel die liggaam se manier is om die mond natuurlik skoon te maak, bou plaak en bakterieë vinniger op in ? droë mond, wat tot ? groter kans op bloeiende tandvleis, slegte asem en tandbederf lei.

Rehidrasie van die mond is ? prioriteit. Om water te drink, sal net tydelike verligting gee. ? Smeermiddel soos GUM Hydral-jel of -sproei sal langer werk. Die kou van suikervrye kougom stimuleer ook speekselvloei, en daar is medikasie beskikbaar wat kan help met speekselproduksie. Vra raad by jou apteker of ander gesondheidsorgwerkers.

• Mondsere

Baie kankerpasiënte ontwikkel mondsere wat dit ongemaklik maak om te eet, praat of die mond skoon te maak. Gebruik Aloclair-jel of -sproei om ? “versperring” oor die seer te vorm vir onmiddellike verligting en om die seer vinniger gesond te laat word. En moenie in die versoeking kom om jou mondsorgroetine te verwaarloos omdat jou mond seer is nie. Om jou mond skoon te hou, kan verdere infeksies voorkom.

•  Gebarste lippe

Beskerm jou lippe met ? smeermiddel om te keer dat dit droog raak en bars. Om jou lippe te lek, kan droogheid vererger. Smeer eerder gereeld ? bevogtende middel aan, soos Letibalm Nose and Lip Repair, en drink baie vloeistof om die mond en vel gehidreer te hou.

Tandheelkundige probleme

Tandvleissiekte en tandbederf is algemene probleme tydens kankerbehandeling. Dit word die beste voorkom met ? doeltreffende daaglikse mondsorgroetine en professionele ondersteuning. Besoek die tandarts vir ? deeglike ondersoek voor met behandeling begin word om enige probleme op te spoor en te behandel. Besoek ook terselfdertyd die mondhigiënis vir ? professionele skoonmaak. Die verwydering van plaak en tandsteen beteken jou mond is in ? toptoestand wanneer met behandeling begin word.

Sommige pasiënte raak naar tydens behandeling. Vomering demineraliseer tandemalje en verswak die tande. Moenie jou tande borsel onmiddellik nadat jy opgegooi het nie. Spoel net jou mond met water uit of gebruik ? gefluorideerde alkoholvrye mondspoelmiddel soos Dentyl Active, of GUM Paroex met antibakteriese setielpiridiniumchloried (CPC). Wag dan ? uur voordat jy borsel.

 Aanbevole daaglikse mondsorgroetine tydens kankerbehandeling

? Paar klein veranderinge aan jou daaglikse mondsorgroetine kan dit makliker en meer doeltreffend maak. Hier is die roetine wat Dirna Grobbelaar, Ivohealth se raadgewer oor mondgesondheid, aanbeveel tydens kankerbehandeling:

1. Borsel minstens twee keer per dag korrek vir ? volle twee minute per keer. Jy is dalk moeg. ? goeie elektriese borsel, soos Philips Sonicare of GUM Sonic, sal met min moeite jou mond behoorlik skoonmaak. Doop die borsel in warm water om die hare sagter te maak, of gebruik ? ultrasagte borsel soos GUM Sonic Sensitive.
2. Wees op die uitkyk vir tandepasta met ? lekker smaak wat veelvuldige voordele het. GUM Paroex Intensive Action bevat antibakteriële bestanddele wat help om tandvleis gesond te hou. Die natuurlike Olgani Probiom-tandepasta en -tandepoeier het bygevoegde pre- en probiotikums wat help om die mikrobiota in die mond gebalanseerd te hou.
3. Hou aan om elke dag tussen die tande skoon te maak. As vlos sensitiewe tandvleis seermaak, probeer ? interdentale borsel soos die herbruikbare GUM Bi-Direction waarvan die hare met ? antibakteriese middel bedek is, of sagte Soft-Picks wat van rubber gemaak is.
4. Spoel nadat jy geëet of opgegooi het met ? alkoholvrye mondspoelmiddel soos Dentyl Active of GUM Paroex met antibakteriese CPC, of gebruik soutgebaseerde mondspoelmiddels soos Thryve-mondsoute of Olgani-spoelmiddels.

Terwyl kankerbehandeling probleme vir jou mond kan veroorsaak, kan die regte behandeling jou help om baie van die algemene probleme te voorkom. Onthou, jou tandarts of mondhigiënis kan jou in dié tyd ondersteun. Vertel hulle van jou diagnose en behandeling.

Vir meer inligting besoek Ivohealth se webwerf of laai Ivohealth se gratis Love your Life, Love your Oral Care-boekie af. Die Kankervereniging van Suid-Afrika se webwerf het ook uitstekende hulpmiddels.

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