To soothe a sore mouth: the right food—and proper oral care
When your mouth is sore, not all foods are created equal:
Your mouth or throat may become sore 7 to 10 days after certain chemotherapy treatments
This is usually associated with a low white blood cell count. When your white blood
cell counts rise, the soreness will go away.
If you have a sore mouth or throat as a result of treatment, it’s important to observe
proper oral care, and to eat and drink in a way you’ll find soothing.
Here are a few ways to minimize discomfort:
- Eat soft or pureed foods (using a straw can make this easier)
- Eat foods cool or at room temperature
- Avoid raw foods, and food that is coarse and scratchy because it can irritate your
mouth
- Try easy-to-swallow foods such as creamy soups, mashed potatoes, pastas, yogurt,
eggs, custards, casseroles, and nutritional liquid food supplements
- Avoid tart, salty, or acidic fruits and juices, pickled and vinegary foods, and
tomato-based foods
- Avoid spicy foods
- Limit alcohol and caffeine
If you find that after making these dietary adjustments you are still not getting
relief, ask your doctor about appetite stimulants. For sores on your
lips, ask your doctor about using Vitamin E. And remember, if you find
a food you can tolerate, it’s okay to favor it.
Proper oral care in three easy steps:
- Dissolve 1 teaspoon of baking soda and 1 teaspoon of salt in a quart of tap water
- Using this solution, rinse and spit after each meal
- Make a fresh batch of solution each morning
Recipes for a sore mouth or
throat