Coping with mouth symptoms

Some cancer treatments may lead to uncomfortable side effects in your mouth. These include mouth sores, difficulty chewing or swallowing, and changes in how food and drinks taste.¹

We understand that mouth symptoms can be uncomfortable,¹ so we’ve put some tips together to help you to cope with your symptoms.

Prioritise your mouthcare routine

Maintaining a consistent oral hygiene routine is important for people having cancer treatment. Brush your teeth with a very soft toothbrush at least twice per day.² This is especially important before bedtime and aim to repeat at least one other time during the day.³ Use this time to check your mouth for any new symptoms.

Also, keeping your lips moisturised will help to soothe your skin and prevent it from drying out and cracking.⁴

Top tip:

If your mouth feels sensitive during treatment, try making your own mouthwash. Mix 1 teaspoon of baking soda and 1 teaspoon of salt in 4 cups of water. Try rinsing your mouth 4–6 times daily – but remember to make a fresh batch of mouthwash each day.⁵ Be careful not to swallow any mouthwash when using it.

Choosing food and drink that works for you

Adapting your diet can help protect your mouth while you eat. For example, if you have mouth sores, you could avoid acidic, spicy, rough or crusty foods that might make eating uncomfortable. Try swapping them for soft foods like flatbreads, boiled pasta or noodles, or cooked and blended fruits and vegetables.⁶

Remember to stay hydrated by drinking around 8–10 glasses (2 litres) of fluid daily. Consider drinking cool fluids or holding ice chips in your mouth to help soothe discomfort.⁶

Smoking tobacco products, and drinking caffeine and alcohol may make mouth symptoms feel worse and slow down your healing time. So, it’s important to avoid these where possible.⁶

Top tip:

It is important to tell your healthcare provider as soon as possible if your symptoms are stopping you from eating and drinking.

Helping foods to taste better

One unpleasant side effect of cancer treatment is a metallic taste that can taint the taste of food and drinks. To combat a metallic taste, try adding sweeteners such as maple syrup to your food or drink. If you have a metallic taste and don’t have mouth sores, try countering sweet and salty tastes with some drops of lemon or lime juice. If food tastes too bitter, try adding sweetener.⁷

Top tip: 

Adding healthy fats to foods that taste bland may help to make them tastier.⁷ Extra salt can affect the balance of water in our bodies, so please speak to your healthcare provider for advice before you add more to your diet.⁸

Remember, these suggestions are here to support you, but your healthcare provider is always your best resource for coping with symptoms effectively. Don’t hesitate to speak with your healthcare team if you have any new symptoms or if your symptoms are getting worse.