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Hello!
My members and For the Public Dental Clinic. How are you?
Did you go anywhere for the New Year? Send your news to me.
(I like to travel around, but
never go any places). If you have any souvenirs for me let
me know and I will rush to pick them up myself personally.
(I'm not too greedy.) This is going to be about oral hygiene
after being treated by chemotherapy or radiation. If you are
interested, follow me.
Chemotherapy or radiation treatment
is used for people suffering from severe cases of oral hygiene
or cancer. This disease spreads rapidly through out the cells
and other parts of the body. The usual treatment is by surgery
or chemotherapy for extremely advanced cases, or at times
both surgery and chemotherapy must be administered. Treatment
using chemotherapy or radiation will control or delay the
disease from spreading or destroy the cells that show signs
of being malignant, but there are side affects to normal cells,
by either infecting the cells or killing them all together.
Therefore, if a patient needs to use chemotherapy or radiation
treatments for facial or neck area, a dentist should perform
oral hygiene by filling cavities or if the tooth cannot be
filled, the dentist should treat the roots or extract the
tooth. If the tooth can be filled, it should be filled properly.
If the tooth is loose and cannot be returned to normal, the
tooth should be extracted and the gum properly treated. Treatments
using chemotherapy or radiation will destroy the inner cheek
tissues in the mouth, saliva glands, and blood veins. If a
patient needs to have dental work after under going chemotherapy
or radiation treatments, the wounds in the mouth will heal
very slowly and in some cases may not heal and become infected,
with the bones being destroyed. Complications will set in
and treatment and curing the wounds will become more difficult.
After chemotherapy or radiation has treated someone, the inner
cheek tissue lining and the throat may become infected. The
lining will hurt and a burning sensation will persist. The
lining is able to peel off easily. The patient will not want
to eat, as the food does not taste good, thus causing the
body to be denied the necessary minerals and vitamins. Therefore,
food eaten by the patient should be warm, semi-solid, and
not spicy. This kind of food will be easy to take and beneficial
to the body. Food should consist of the five food groups.
Besides this, the saliva glands that were destroyed will produces
less saliva causing dryness in the mouth. To help remedy this,
the patient should constantly sip water and apply Vaseline
to the lips. In order to prevent moisture losses in the mouth,
moisturizers can be used. If the pain and burning feeling
in the mouth is unbearable a mixture of mouthwash and antithesis
can be used to give the mouth cavity a feeling of numbness,
and this will allow the patient to eat without feeling pain.
Proper oral hygiene is of the utmost importance for patients
that have been treated by chemotherapy and radiation. As the
saliva glands do not function normally, and the productions
of saliva is reduced, the patient does not have enough saliva
to help rinse the teeth of food particles, therefore the teeth
are more susceptible to decay, especially next to the gums.
The patient does not want to brush them or cannot brush them
as brushing causes pain to the gums and other sensitive areas.
A toothbrush with soft bristles is recommended. Brushing should
be done without the use of toothpaste making sure to reach
all the teeth, and then rinse the mouth thoroughly with clear
water. Toothpaste is sweet tasting and could cause pain to
the sensitive areas of the mouth. If toothpaste is used, it
should be the kind without menthol but should contain fluoride.
Be sure to rinse the mouth thoroughly after brushing in order
get rid of any toothpaste that may be trapped, as that could
be breeding grounds for bacteria. Brushing our teeth at least
twice a day; mornings and before bed times help reduce the
bacteria. For best results, teeth should be brushed after
each meal. Bacteria in the mouth cause halitosis. An antiseptic
mouthwash may be used after brushing to reduce the bacteria
and at the same time freshen the breath. Patients should have
dental treatment every six months so the dentist can clean
and apply fluoride to the teeth. Presently there are tooth-
brushes that have fluoride jell in them, which comes out as
the teeth are brushed. The patient may use that kind of toothbrush,
but only after brushing with an ordinary one first. Keep the
fluoride in the mouth for 3 or 5 seconds. Then thoroughly
rinse mouth with clean water.
Therefore, patients should not
feel discouraged when receiving chemotherapy or radiation
treatments, as proper dental treatment is available. If you
follow this advice and do not feel better, you should consult
a doctor immediately.
It will not be much longer before
Chinese New Year. I wish you happiness and much fun, but remember
to pay attention to your dental hygiene. (Tell me how much
you receive for Chinese bonus and we can share it.) I will
pick up my share personally. (I may receive more kicks than
kudos.)
P.S All complaints and praises
should be sent to 000006@Thai.com
(But if I receive more complaints that praises, I may cancel.)
From Mr.
Dent.
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