About

Xerostomia is the medical expression for dry mouth due to a lack of saliva. Radiation therapy can damage the saliva glands which causes dry mouth. This can become frustrating and bacteria can emerge which will cause other complications. Dry mouth usually disappears after radiation treatment. If it continues, see your physician or dentist and they can prescribe medication to help the dry mouth problem.

Normal cells can be affected by radiation therapy used to destroy cancer cells in the body. These side-effects are usually localized close to the cancer. Although many of the side-effects are expected, their specific nature will vary in each patient depending on the type of cancer, the strength of the radiation and especially the area of the body where the treatment is administered.