Importance of oro-dental hygiene in head and neck cancer patients receiving radiation
About 50-70% of head and neck cancer patients in India receive radiation to the primary tumor and neck nodes. These patients usually have poor oro-dental hygiene due to tobacco, smoking and alcohol use, lower socio-economic status and lack of awareness towards oro-dental health. When these patients receive radiation(with or without chemotherapy) to head and neck region , the oral complications tend to get worse leading to peri-odontitis, carious tooth and in late stages osteo-radionecrosis. Radiation to the head and neck area causes reduction in vascularity and increased plaque deposition due to dryness of mouth and decrease in saliva(xerostomia).
It is very important to identify and treat the risk factors before starting radiation like scaling and filling of teeth surfaces, treatment of peri-apical infections and atraumatic extraction of carious tooth if any. Also, maintenance of good oro-dental hygiene, use of fluoride gel, sucrose free diet,high intake of fluids, during and after radiation can be very helpful.
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