What is Mucositis?

Mucositis is an immune system related disease that occurs as a result of inflammation in the tissues lining the mouth. It can occur as a result of patients undergoing cancer treatment receiving chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Mucositis is one of the most frequently observed side effects of cancer treatments. In addition, this disease is seen from time to time in people with weakened immune systems.

The quality of life decreases in patients with mucositis in the oral tissue, and difficulties may be experienced in eating and drinking due to pain and ache in the mouth.

What Causes Mucositis?

Generally, the drugs used by people undergoing chemotherapy treatment interfere not only with cancerous cells but also with healthy cells. When this is the case, drugs that attack the cells in the mouth make the cells in the mouth weak and vulnerable to infections. Ultimately, mucositis occurs as a side effect of drugs. It can also be observed in individuals with weakened immune system due to drugs, weakened due to any disease or already weakened immune system.

What Are the Symptoms of Mucositis?

Mucositis usually occurs 5-10 days after the start of chemotherapy treatment in cancer patients. Mucositis gives some symptoms before it is fully observed. These;

• Swelling, redness and pain of unknown origin in some parts of the mouth
• Sudden and unexplained bleeding in the mouth
• The appearance of sores in the mouth, also known as mouth lesions or ulcers
• Settlement of white pus-filled patches inside the mouth
• Thickening of saliva and formation of mucus for no reason

Mucositis can also settle in the gums and tongue in the mouth. When all these symptoms occur, they negatively affect people's eating and swallowing functions. In addition, mucositis causes intolerance of the foods taken, causing the patient to be malnourished and constantly losing fluid.

How Is Mucositis Treated?

Before starting the treatment process of individuals diagnosed with cancer, they can take a supplement that increases the strength of the immune system in order not to face a disease such as mucositis. In addition, a process can be planned against the formation of mucositis by consulting a dentist in order to prevent mucositis, the side effect of the drugs given. If cancer treatment was started without consulting a dentist and mucositis is seen, you can still get help from your dentist for the mucositis treatment process.

There are also natural methods that can be applied at home for mucositis. Although you still need to consult a dentist to completely eliminate the disease, you can use these methods to relieve symptoms or relieve pain;

• After chemotherapy, you can protect the oral tissue by keeping frozen fruit or ice pieces in the mouth for a while.
• Along with a proper oral care routine, you can gargle with salt water, which will help relieve symptoms.
• You can try to avoid consuming spicy, dry, acidic, salty or caffeinated and hot products that will irritate your oral tissue.
• You should consume more fluids than you normally consume.
• If you use alcohol or tobacco products, you should stop.