According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research and the National Institutes of Health, there are several things you can do to protect your mouth during treatment:

• Brush your teeth and your tongue often and gently, with an extra-soft toothbrush.
• If your mouth is sore, soften the toothbrush bristles in warm water.
• Brush after every meal and at bedtime.
• Floss once a day to remove plaque.
• If your gums bleed and hurt, avoid those areas but keep flossing your other teeth.
• Rinse often with water.
• Do not use mouthwashes that contain alcohol.
• Use a saliva substitute to moisten your mouth.
• Choose soft, easy-to-chew foods.
• Protect your mouth from spicy, sour, or crunchy foods.
• Choose lukewarm foods and drinks instead of hot or ice cold.
• Avoid alcoholic drinks.
• If you smoke or chew tobacco, ask your cancer care team to help you stop. People who quit smoking or chewing tobacco have fewer mouth problems.