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Kids Receiving Cancer Treatment Face Challenging Oral Side Effects
New research highlights significant gaps in preventive dental care and caregiver education that may leave children undergoing cancer treatment vulnerable to oral complications.
More than 15,000 children are diagnosed with cancer each year in the United States with most cases affecting those age 0 to 14.1 The most frequently diagnosed childhood cancers are leukemia, brain and central nervous system tumors, and lymphomas.2 Most cancer therapies include chemotherapy and radiation, which can cause significant oral side effects such as mucosal pain, ulcers, and diminished mastication.
These side effects not only affect systemic health, but they also impact quality of life. A study published in BDJ Open looked at parents’/caregivers’ knowledge of oral hygiene practices.
The study included the parents/caregivers of 66 children undergoing cancer treatment. Strikingly, only 25.7% of the children had ever received professional dental care. The standard of care for patients undergoing oncology treatment is to receive a pretreatment oral health evaluation but only 12.1% of the patients in the study received one.
The oral hygiene habits of the participants were also pretty grim. A little more than half brushed their teeth once per day and more than 60% reported snacking between meals. While parental/caregiver knowledge of oral health issues was low, most of the children did experience oral side effects including oral ulcers (40.9%), problems with mastication (30.3%), and dysgeusia (27.3%).
Good oral hygiene practices and regular dental care are key to mitigating the oral side effects of cancer therapy in children and the importance of daily oral self-care cannot be over emphasized. The results of this study demonstrate an opportunity to collaborate with other healthcare providers to ensure patients and their families understand how to best provide and support oral hygiene and the importance of regular dental care.
References
- United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Tracking Pediatric and Young Adult Cancers.
- National Cancer Institute. Childhood Cancers.
- Gandhi V, Pal M, Patil V, et al. Awareness of oral health, hygiene practices, and chemotherapy-related oral manifestations among parents of pediatric oncology patients. BDJ Open. 2026;58:12.
