Sore Mouth Relief After Cancer Therapy: 7 Foods That Help (+ Recipe)

If you’re undergoing chemotherapy or radiation treatments to destroy the cancer cells in your body, then you may also be suffering from sore mouth. In this article I share some information to help you recover from this painful side effect of conventional cancer treatment. I’ve also provided a healthy recipe to initiate restoration to your mouth so you can feel better quickly.

Why Does Cancer Treatment Often Lead to a Sore Mouth?

Why is there pain in the mouth and throat area after cancer therapy? There are several reasons for the discomfort. Radiation or chemotherapy that is specifically targeted to the head and neck regions will dramatically affect the soft tissue in the mouth and throat causing pain.

Like cancer cells, the cells in the mouth and throat replicate rapidly. The therapy is not specific enough to target only cancer cells but rather it destroys all fast-growing cells. This is bad news on two levels. First, healthy cells in the mouth and throat are destroyed along with cancer cells. Second, the body’s natural repair of the tissue is slowed or stopped altogether during the period that therapy is being executed. This causes significant damage to the lining of the mouth and throat.

Furthermore, the good bacteria in the mouth is also destroyed which allows cavities, viral infections, and canker sores to flourish. All these issues add to the discomfort and further threaten your health.

Taking Conventional Cancer Treatments? 2 Protocols to Follow

There are two key things that need to be addressed while undergoing conventional cancer treatments that will help to reduce the severity of a sore mouth:

#1. Protect your mouth with the help of a dentist specializing in Holistic Dentistry (see resources for links). Then follow the regimen that your new dentist recommends. This usually includes rinsing your mouth to remove pathogens, flossing, and brushing after each meal with special mouthwash and toothpaste.

#2. Include particular foods in your diet that will help to counteract the side-effects of treatment.

7 Foods That Will Help Your Body Heal a Sore Mouth

The following 7 foods are recommended to facilitate the regrowth and repair of damaged tissue:

#1. Garlic

Garlic contains allicin which is an antiviral component that protects the mouth against viral infection. Garlic is also an anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer agent. Be sure to crush or mince the garlic ten minutes before eating to maximize the benefits.

#2. Ginger

Ginger is an ancient Chinese medicinal root that promotes health. It’s amazing anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, and pain killing properties help heal and also prevent infection. Choose the Peruvian or local organic varieties for maximum benefits.

#3. Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera is an amazing plant with a multitude of healing properties. One of them is its ability to heal the skin and soft tissues. Aloe Vera has an intrinsic ability to replace the cells that cover the body inside and out. This means that it can replace the damaged cellular tissue in the mouth and throat. However, it is very bitter to the taste. Thankfully the bitterness goes undetected in a smoothie.

#4. Spirulina and Chlorella

Both are two blue green algae with super nutrients. Together or individually, spirulina and chlorella will strengthen your immune system and rebuild damaged tissue with their complete protein profile. They taste great so adding them to savory smoothies, salads, and soups is a plus while they do their spectacular restoration. They are also anti-viral so they protect you from bacterial invasion while your guard is down from the cancer treatments. Add these after cooking to get the maximum benefits.

#5. Raw honey

Raw honey is a special superfood that incorporates bee pollen and propolis. Both of these components add to the healing, anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and restorative protocols that are needed after treatment. Honey is sweet but it does not act like refined sugar, so can be an anti-cancer food as well.

The pollen is a complete protein with all the B vitamins to build your immune system and balance your hormones. Propolis is especially important for healing the tissues and preventing viral or bacterial infections. This is an added benefit because after radiation and chemotherapy the mouth is susceptible to invasion of bacteria and viruses.

#6. Pumpkin Seeds

contain a substantial amount of zinc. Zinc is a mineral that works with your enzymes to protect against foreign invaders. It strengthens the immune system so that colds, flu, and other common illnesses are less likely to take hold and/or are diminished in duration. A steady supply of zinc is vital for the cancer patient undergoing treatment because cancer treatments deplete the immune system due to their toxic nature. So, to overcome the toxicity it is important to eat foods that are high in this mineral. Untoasted (unprocessed) pumpkin seeds are delicious and can be incorporated into most of your dishes including smoothies, sauces, on salads, in soups, and as a snack.

They are very important to restore your body’s immune system while adding healthy fats to feed your metabolism. This means getting energy with viral protection. And they are inexpensive and readily available. You can buy them from any health food or organic store.

#7. Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is an extraordinary food that has recently been added to the superfood list. It has amazing properties that are anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and loaded with nutrients and healthy fats. Fats are extremely important for restoring cells, especially nerve cells. This means that they can rebuild the brain tissue and nerve tissues in the body that get damaged from head and neck radiation treatments. Many chronic ailments are caused by a lack of good healthy fats in the diet. It is important that you get the cold pressed coconut oil.

This is not processed and thus provides the most nutritional benefits. Coconut oil is a food that increases your metabolism, increases your energy, and fights infection by building the immune system as well as maintaining its properties under relatively high cooking temperatures. It does not become rancid in the heat like other oils, however it is best to consume it without heating.

Employing a Holistic dentist will help you keep your mouth free from infection and tooth decay that often accompanies cancer treatment. And adding the special food choices mentioned in this article will help to heal the tissue in your mouth and throat. Combining the two protocols will assist you in obtaining a speedy recovery so you can enjoy your food and social life again.

Recipe for Sore Mouth Relief

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Editor’s note: This post was originally published in May 2017. It has been updated and republished in September 2019.