The effect of routine professional oral care on oral mucositis in hematologic chemotherapy patients

Abstract According to the literature, 40%of all oral complications associated with chemotherapy are due to oral mucositis. Moreover, such complications increase the difficulties associated with oral intake, leading to deterioration of the patient's nutritional condition and increasing the risk of systemic infection. Therefore, oral mucositis prevention and proper treatment are very important. The conditions of intra-oral cavities and effects of oral care in patients with hematological malignancies were retrospectively evaluated by dental hygienists from April 2008 to March 2011. Eleven of 28 patients(39.3%)who received routine professional oral care developed oral mucositis. In many such patients, intra-oral cavity deterioration, evidenced by a coated tongue and Candida infection, was observed. Although 25 of 28 patients with hematologic malignancies received specific oral mucositis care after chemotherapy initiation, those receiving continuous oral care subsequently made a full recovery. These results suggest that early and continuous professional oral health care may play an important role in the effective chemotherapy of patients with hematologic malignancies.