Oral mucositis due to cancer treatments. Orodental hygiene and ice cubes.

(1) Oral mucositis is a frequent adverse effect of cancer chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Fluorouracil, radiotherapy and conditioning regimens for haematopoietic stem cell grafting often cause severe oral mucositis, preventing patients from drinking and eating normally. (2) A randomised trial suggests that this complication can be attenuated by timely orodental care such as extraction of damaged teeth, treatment of tooth decay, and care of trauma due to dentures. (3) In 3 randomised controlled trials involving about 200 patients at high risk of severe oral mucositis, sucking ice during chemotherapy reduced the incidence of severe oral mucositis, from 14-74% to 4-21%. (4) Other treatments are no more effective and carry a risk of known or poorly documented adverse effects. (5) Analgesics (especially morphine) should be used to treat intense pain. Local anaesthetics have not been tested in patients with damaged oral mucosa, but they can cause a burning sensation and carry a risk of swallowing disorders due to anaesthesia of the oropharyngeal junction. (6) In practice, prevention of oral mucositis due to cancer chemotherapy or radiotherapy is based on orodental care and ice rather than drugs.