Dental and oral health for children and teens

Side effects of cancer treatment may cause a variety of problems affecting the mouth, teeth, and jaw that can have an impact on a child's quality of life. The side effects they experience will depend on the type and duration of the treatment they receive, but there are things you can do to decrease the risk of dental and oral problems. 

A thorough oral evaluation by a dental professional is recommended prior to treatment. During and after treatment, work closely with your child's entire healthcare team to manage any oral complications. Proper dental hygiene on an ongoing basis is essential. 

How blood cancer treatment affects dental and oral (mouth) health

Chemotherapy

Most of the oral complications caused by chemotherapy are short term and typically resolve after treatment ends. Oral complications caused by chemotherapy include: 

• Mouth sores (oral mucositis)
• Bleeding in the mouth: low platelet count causes bleeding problems
• Dry mouth (xerostomia)
• Tooth decay and gum disease
• Infection: low white blood cell count increases the risk of infection
• Pain
• Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
• Taste changes (dysgeusia)
• Nerve damage (neurotoxicity)
• Changes in dental growth and development in children
• Malnutrition or dehydration 

Radiation to the head and neck

Common oral complications from radiation therapy include:  

• Mouth sores
• Salivary gland dysfunction, which causes decreased saliva production. This can lead to:
• Dry mouth
• Difficulty swallowing
• Taste changes
• Speech problems
• Yeast infection (in the mouth or throat)
• Tooth decay and gum disease
• Pain
• Nerve damage
• Changes in dental growth and development in children
• Malnutrition or dehydration
• Difficulty opening the mouth (trismus), also known as lockjaw
• Fibrosis (thickening and scarring of tissue)
• Osteoradionecrosis: A rare condition in which the loss of blood flow to bone cells in the jaw causes the cells to break down, die, and expose bone  

Stem cell transplant

The high doses of chemotherapy typically used before a stem cell transplant may cause dental and oral side effects. Patients who receive an allogeneic stem cell transplant (with cells from a donor) have an increased risk of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). GVHD occurs when transplanted donor cells attack the patient’s body. 

Oral complications of chronic GVHD can include:  

• Inflammation, thinning, and ulceration of oral mucosal tissues. There may be redness and “lacy” white patches in the mouth. This can resemble lichen planus, an itchy rash causing burning or soreness.
• Salivary gland dysfunction, which causes decreased saliva production. This can lead to:
• Dry mouth
• Difficulty chewing or swallowing
• Taste changes
• Tooth decay
• Difficulty opening the mouth (trismus), also known as lockjaw

Targeted therapy: Targeted therapy uses drugs or other substances to identify and attack specific types of cancer cells, generally with less harm to normal cells. However, some targeted therapies can have negative side effects that affect the mouth by causing mucositis, infection, or salivary gland dysfunction. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors are one type of targeted therapy. 

Immunotherapy: Immunotherapy utilizes a person's own immune system to fight cancer, and generally results in fewer short-term side effects than chemotherapy. Common effects of immunotherapy on the mouth include mucositis, taste changes, and salivary gland dysfunction. There are different types of immunotherapy, including immune checkpoint inhibitors and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies. 

Bone-modifying drugs: Bisphosphonates are a class of drugs that prevent bone loss. They are often prescribed to people with myeloma (cancer of the plasma cells) because myeloma can dissolve, weaken, and even break bones. Bisphosphonates can help bones stay strong by slowing down this destructive process. Common bisphosphonates for treating bone problems in people with myeloma are pamidronate (Aredia®) and zoledronic acid (Zometa®). Patients should understand that although bisphosphonates are effective, these drugs can also cause risk to their dental health. 

Denosumab (Prolia® or Xgeva®) may also be prescribed to reduce the risk of fractures in people with myeloma or certain other cancers that have spread to the bones. Denosumab is a monoclonal antibody (a type of protein made in the laboratory) that binds to a protein called RANKL on the surface of certain bone cells. It keeps bone from breaking down and prevents cancer cells from growing. 

Bisphosphonate treatment or denosumab can both cause a rare but serious side effect called “osteonecrosis of the jaw” (ONJ). ONJ causes part of the jawbone to die, which can lead to pain, open sores, and higher risk of tooth loss and infection. Patients should have a dental check-up before starting treatment with bisphosphonates or denosumab and address any dental problems before treatment begins.  

For information about the drugs listed on this page, visit our cancer drug listings. 

Dental hygiene before cancer treatment  

Dental care is an important part of overall cancer care. Good nutrition also plays a big role in dental health. Problems with the teeth, gums, or mouth can interfere with eating well and poor nutrition can lead to dental problems.  

Good dental hygiene, before and during cancer treatment, may help to either prevent or decrease the associated oral complications. You should learn about proper dental care so that you can lessen side effects and manage symptoms in your child. The goal is to treat existing oral problems before treatment begins and to become educated about the potential risks, side effects, and complications of therapy.  

When treatment is not urgent, children should visit a dentist at least four weeks before treatment starts. When they go to the dentist, update their medical history records to include their cancer diagnosis and treatments, and provide their dentist and oncologist with each other’s names and telephone numbers so they can consult with one another. You may be advised to have any necessary major dental procedures completed before beginning therapy, if possible.  

A pretreatment oral evaluation will identify problems such as cavities, fractured teeth, loose crowns or fillings, or gum disease. These problems should all be addressed in order to reduce the risk of complications. During the pretreatment evaluation, discuss potential oral complications caused by cancer treatment and ways to prevent and manage them. 

Dental hygiene during cancer treatment 

To decrease the risk of complications such as cavities, mouth sores, and infections during treatment, it is important to keep the mouth, teeth, and gums clean. 

You can take the following steps with your child to help improve their oral health: 

• Brush teeth and gums two to three times a day
• Use a fluoride toothpaste with a mild taste—flavorings can irritate the mouth
• Gently floss once a day
• Rinse the mouth frequently (every four to six hours) with a solution of water, salt, and baking soda to prevent soreness
• Use an alcohol-free antibacterial rinse two to four times a day to prevent gum disease
• Use a lip-care product to prevent your child's lips from drying and cracking
• Pay attention to diet. Try to:
  • Choose healthy foods that are mild, soft, and easy to chew and swallow
  • Avoid hot, spicy, highly acidic, and crunchy foods that may irritate your mouth
  • Avoid sugary foods, like candy or soda, that can cause cavities
• Make sure your child's mouth is moist during cancer treatments to avoid mouth sores. You can make sure they:
  • Drink a lot of water
  • Suck on ice chips to prevent dryness
  • Use sugarless gum or hard candy
  • Use a saliva substitute
• Ask about fluoride treatments that may be recommended to prevent cavities or tooth sensitivity
• Talk with your doctor about ways to improve bone health with vitamin D and/or calcium supplements
• If your child is undergoing radiation treatment for head and neck cancer, have them practice oral stretching exercises daily to avoid problems opening and closing their mouth
• Look in their mouth every day and note any sores, ulcers, infection, or other changes. Take steps to help prevent and treat a sore mouth.

Managing complications 

Speak with your child's oncologist and dentist as soon as possible if they have any mouth, tooth, or jaw pain—or any other symptom of possible dental problems. 

If needed, your oncologist may refer you to a dental oncologist (a dentist who is specially trained to treat people with cancer). 

Ask your child's healthcare team for tips on how to keep your teeth and mouth clean, and for their suggestions on how to reduce dental discomfort.  

You, your child's doctor and dentist should work together to manage symptoms and treat complications with medication and/or supportive care. Supportive care can include pain management, nutritional advice, counseling, complementary therapies, and more. 

• Mouth rinses that contain baking soda and salt, over-the-counter rinses, or prescription rinses may soothe sore spots in the mouth.
• Pain medications, including some narcotics, may be used to relieve mouth pain.
• Antibiotics, antiviral drugs, or antifungal drugs are used to treat infections.
• Other prescription medications, such as oral gels and medications that will increase saliva, may be prescribed. 

Dental hygiene after cancer treatment 

When cancer treatment has finished, it is important to: 

• Visit a dentist as soon as appropriate after completing treatment
• Treat any dental issues that may arise
• Maintain optimal oral health and dental care for life

Paying for dental care 

Paying for dental care is a concern for many cancer patients. Not everyone can afford dental insurance, and dental benefits are not always an option. It is important that you educate yourself about your medical and dental insurance coverage and its limitations before your child begins cancer treatments.  

You should share any financial concerns with your medical and dental teams and find out if there are any financial resources available. See our fact sheet, Dental and Oral Complications of Cancer Treatment Facts, for a list of organizations that may be able to help.