What can you do to prevent mouth sores?

Although there's no guaranteed way to prevent mouth sores, you can reduce your risk. Talk to your doctor about your risk of developing mouth sores and whether you should try preventive measures.

Your doctor might recommend that you:

• Get a dental checkup. Visit your dentist before you begin cancer treatment to take care of any unresolved dental issues, such as gum disease, cavities or teeth that need to be pulled. Any pain or infections in your mouth will only get worse once you begin treatment.

• Tell your doctor if you have a history of mouth sores. If you've experienced recurring mouth sores in the past, tell your doctor.

  In some cases, medications may help prevent those types of mouth sores from occurring during cancer treatment. For instance, people who experience frequent mouth sores due to the herpes simplex virus may take an antiviral medication to prevent those mouth sores during treatment. A mouth rinse using the drug dexamethasone can help prevent mouth sores in people receiving the targeted drug everolimus.

• Take care of your teeth. Get in the habit of brushing your teeth and rinsing your mouth several times a day. Check the labels on mouthwashes and avoid alcohol-based products.

  Floss every day, especially after eating. Developing a routine for your mouth care now will make it easier to continue throughout your treatment.

• Stop smoking. If you smoke, quit. Smoking during treatment will make it harder for your mouth to heal itself.
• Eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables. Vary your diet to include plenty of fruits and vegetables. You'll need the vitamins and nutrients they provide to help your body fight infections during treatment.

Depending on your cancer and your treatment, your doctor may recommend other techniques for reducing your risk of mouth sores, such as:

• Cold therapy (cryotherapy). If you're receiving fluorouracil, sometimes called 5-FU, or melphalan (Alkeran) as part of your chemotherapy treatment, it might help to swish ice chips or cold water around in your mouth for the first half-hour of your treatments. The cold limits the amount of the drug that reaches your mouth, reducing your risk of mouth sores.

• Medication to repair mouth cells. Palifermin (Kepivance) stimulates the growth of cells on the surface of your mouth. If the cells of your mouth recover quickly, you're less likely to experience severe mouth sores.

  Palifermin is approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use in people with blood and bone marrow cancers who receive bone marrow transplants.