Cancer treatments like chemo therapy and medicines can have several side effects, one of which is mouth sores. This especially applies when treatment is given to the head and neck areas. Radiation given to these areas can cause mouth ulcers and swollen gums and also increase the chances of other dental infections. The cells in your mouth are naturally quick rejuvenating. Radiation slows this process down though and this causes the mouth sores. The condition generally improves quickly once the treatment is over. In the mean time, there are several steps that can help you through the process and reduce the pain caused by the sores.
1. Cook your food well. Thorough cooking makes the food tender and soft, making it much easier to chew and it won’t make the sores worse.
2. You should avoid foods that require a lot of chewing like meats. Instead, opt for soft vegetables, fruits, cream, yoghurt and other foods that are soft and won’t hurt your mouth while chewing.
3. Try to make your bites smaller as mouthfuls can make the condition worse. Where applicable, you can make a puree in a mixer or blender so that the food is easier to consume.
4. You could also use a small spoon to limit the size of your morsels.
5. If the condition is severe, try to include liquid foods like soups and milk shakes. These will not only provide you with plenty of nutrition but are easier to consume and are filling too! You should also use a straw to drink liquids to avoid contact with parts of your mouth that pain the most.
6. In order to make your mouth numb, you could suck on ice cubes or chips. This will provide relief from the pain
7. Avid foods that are known to make the condition worse. This includes salty and spicy food, citric fruits, crunchy foods and raw vegetables. You should avoid alcohol completely too.