Radiotherapy is a common means of battling cancer, and is quite successful at it, too. But as with most cancer treatments, it is not without its side effects. One of these side effects is the drying of the mouth during treatment. This is due to the effect of radiation on the salivary glands, particularly if the radiation is being used to treat head or neck cancer. Patients often feel that their saliva is thick and swallowing is difficult. Dry mouth can be a serious condition, leading to painful mouth sores and tooth decay.
If dry mouth occurs during treatment, patients are recommended to add a few drops of glycerine to their water in order to make the water stick in the mouth longer. Patients are also advised to avoid sugary and spicy foods, as well as alcohol, caffeine and smoking.
The condition of dry mouth often stops with the cessation of the treatment.
