Sore Mouth (Oral Mucositis)

Sore mouth, or oral mucositis, occurs when there is inflammation of the lining of the mouth, and can range from just redness in the mouth and/or gums to severe ulcerations that can cause pain and difficulties in eating, swallowing and speech. Problems associated with sore mouth can have a negative impact on a person’s quality of life, and the best way to manage them is to prevent or treat them early.

Causes of Sore Mouth

The lining of our entire gastrointestinal tract (including our mouth, throat, stomach and intestines), also called the “mucosa”, is made up of cells which divide and grow rapidly. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy kills not only cancer cells, but also other rapidly dividing cells - and this includes the mucosa of the whole gastrointestinal tract. Cancer and cancer treatment-related causes of sore mouth therefore include:

• Chemotherapy. Over 40% of people receiving chemotherapy will develop some degree of sore mouth during their treatment, and this usually occurs when the white blood cell count is low. People receiving certain chemotherapeutic drugs (e.g. methotrexate, 5-fluorouracil, doxorubicin, vincristine, etc.) are more likely to developing sore mouth than others.

• Radiation therapy. People receiving radiation to the salivary glands, head and neck region, or total body irradiation are more likely to develop sore mouth.

• Graft-versus-Host disease. This is a process that can happen after a bone marrow or stem cell transplant, where the donor cells recognize the recipient’s cells as foreign, and mount an attack against them. This can occur in any part of the body, including the mouth.

• Infections. Mouth sores cause by infections e.g. herpes virus can be more common in people with cancer.

There are other factors that can increase your likelihood of developing sore mouth. These include: poor oral health, smoking, drinking alcohol, dehydration, taking medications that causes dry mouth (e.g. antidepressants) or that predisposes you to mouth infection (e.g. corticosteroids), and certain diseases (e.g. kidney disease, diabetes).

What you need to look out for

Depending on the cause and other associated conditions, signs and symptoms can include:

• Mouth, gum or tongue ulcers
• Red and swollen mouth and gums
• Bleeding in the mouth
• Pain in the mouth or throat
• Difficulty or painful eating, drinking, swallowing or talking
• Dry mouth, with increased mucus or thicker saliva

How it can be treated

In general, having a good oral care regimen (see section on “What you can do”) can help prevent and relieve sore mouth, as well as decrease the risk of associated complications such as infections from mouth ulcers. Depending on the treatment you are receiving, your doctor may recommend additional steps you may take. For instance, you may be advised to suck on ice chips right before, during and after your chemotherapy treatment – this method is called “cryotherapy”, and has been shown to be effective in preventing sore mouth caused by certain chemotherapy drugs.

For pain associated with sore mouth, treatment depends on the severity of pain. Your doctor may prescribe gels or mouth rinses containing numbing agents for pain relief. If these do not adequately control the pain, oral painkillers or opioids may be used.

What you can do

Below are some tips you may find helpful, in preventing and managing sore mouth:

When to call your cancer care team

Please seek immediate medical attention as soon as you notice any of the following, which can indicate complications from sore mouth:

• Persistent bleeding from the mucosa
• Unable to take medications or swallow pills
• Unable to eat or drink for more than 24 hours
• Signs of dehydration (decreased urination, dizziness, dry mouth / skin, feeling very tired or sleepy)
• Fever of 38 degree celsius or higher

If you have any questions regarding the above information, please call Cancer Helpline at +65 6225 5655 or approach your doctor or nurse for further details.

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