Kids with cancer - How to Protect Their Teeth

When a child is diagnosed with cancer, everyone's life turns upside down. As your dental care professionals, we can help with your child's dental needs while he or she is undergoing treatments.

We need to begin an oral care program two weeks before your child starts cancer treatments because there are several procedures we cannot perform if your child has already begun radiation or chemotherapy.


We can identify and take care of most existing dental needs so your child's cancer treatment won't be delayed. For example, if your child has an oral infection, cancer treatments will be postponed.


If your child wears braces or a retainer, we need to examine it. An ill-fitting appliance can damage soft oral tissues and provide bacteria an opportunity to cause a gum infection. We can provide you with information about the daily care of an orthodontic device.

Your child needs to maintain a consistent, rigorous daily oral care routine. Start by using xylitol products as soon as possible before treatments begin. Using xylitol five or more times a day will help build a healthier grouping of bacteria in the mouth. Stock up on toothbrushes, too. Switching to a new one about three days after a chemo treatment will provide less contamination when the white blood cell count goes down and your child is least resistant to infection. And come visit us often. The best time is just before a chemo treatment when we can apply fluoride varnish or send fluoride trays home with you to help prepare the teeth for their difficult journey.

We can recommend minor dietary changes to eliminate or minimize foods and supplements that can cause tooth decay.

You can be confident that your child will receive excellent professional medical and dental care before, during and after cancer treatments.


Houston dentist
Minh Nguyen, D.D.S.