(14) Mouth problems
Some people have difficulties in
eating because of either a sore mouth (eg, following radiotherapy treatment)
or a dry mouth. The following advice may be helpful:
Sore mouth
- Choose soft, moist food, if necessary adding
plenty of gravy, sauce, custard or cream.
- Eat foods lukewarm rather than very cold or very
hot. However, cold or frozen foods and drinks may help to alleviate
soreness temporarily.
- Avoid acidic foods such as citrus fruits and
tomatoes because they may cause stinging. Choose bananas and pears instead.
- Avoid salty or spicy foods.
- Try milk-based foods and drinks. These are often
soothing.
- Avoid dry foods such as toast, biscuits and crispbreads.
- Try drinking liquids through a straw.
Dry mouth
- Sip drinks frequently throughout the day.
- Suck boiled sweets.
- Suck ice cubes (these can be flavoured with fruit
juice) or ice lollies.
- Ensure that food is moist by adding gravy, sauce,
custard or cream.
- Try segments of grapefruit, orange or pineapple,
or fruit juice, which can help saliva production.
|
|
This series of “dietary advice tips” is intended
to be a reminder of the main points to be made by pharmacists when giving
nutritional information to the public. The conditions included in the
series are those where diet is a well recognised risk factor, those in
which diet contributes to the management of the condition, and others
for which patients may welcome sound dietary advice.
Written by Dr Pamela Mason (a pharmacist with a postgraduate qualification
in nutrition)
|
