Thick saliva due to head and neck cancer treatment

Saliva plays an important role in keeping your mouth healthy. However, in the treatment of head and neck cancer, saliva can be thick, so what is the cause and how is it treated?

Salivary glands produce saliva. These glands can be damaged by chemotherapy or radiation. This damage can cause you to have thick, thick, sticky spit. Dense saliva can make speaking, swallowing, eating, and sometimes breathing harder than usual. In some cases, the salivary glands heal quickly, but sometimes not. In some cases, thick saliva is a long-term side effect. Damage to the salivary glands can also cause less spitting or dry mouth.
Dry mouth or thick saliva can increase the risk of tooth decay and oral infections. If you smoke or drink alcohol, dry mouth may be worse.

Mouth feels dry and flaky with white saliva in and around the mouth. Saliva is thick like mucus and sticks to your lips when you open your mouth. Difficulty swallowing food or thick liquids. The mouth must always be open to breathe (breathing through the mouth will further dry the mouth and throat). Tongue feels hot. Food residues or other substances are deposited on the teeth, tongue and gums. There are grooves or cracks on the surface of the tongue.

Dehydration: As mentioned earlier, moisture plays an important role in saliva consistency. When you don't drink enough water, you become dehydrated and so will your saliva. Allergies or colds: Allergies and colds would have been bad enough without adding sticky saliva to it. Unfortunately, due to a runny nose after a stuffy nose, mucus can travel down your throat, settling in your mouth. Diabetes . Smoking: Smoking increases mucus production in your throat, creating a sticky feeling in your mouth. This occurs when there is disruption to the upper airway.

Drink plenty of water to dilute saliva. Wet foods with liquids such as broth, yogurt, sauces, and gravy. A cool or warm mist humidifier can be used, but you need to make sure you keep the humidifier clean. Sleep with the head of your bed elevated. This will keep saliva from pooling in the back of your throat. Shower with water that is warm enough to create steam that will thin the saliva. Gargle and/or drink carbonated beverages. Take care of your teeth regularly along with gargling with salt or baking soda. Medicines can be used to reduce or thin the saliva as prescribed by the doctor. Things caregivers of head and neck cancer patients should do:
Offer small, soft meals with extra sauces or sauces for dipping. Offers ice cream, gelatin desserts, shaved ice and frozen drinks. Keep liquids nearby for frequent sipping. Help patients monitor their fluid intake and encourage them to drink 2 to 3 liters of fluids per day, if approved by the care team. Ice, ice cream, sherbet, popsicles and gelatin are considered liquids. Call the doctor treating head and neck cancer if the patient:
Difficulty breathing; Unable to eat or drink; Unable to take pills or swallow pills; Dry, chapped lips or mouth sores. In the treatment of head and neck cancer, saliva may become thick. Causes can be dehydration, side effects of cancer treatment, etc. Tell your doctor right away if you experience this condition.

Reference source: oncolink.org