Table of Contents
What is chewing problem?
Chewing problem is a medical condition that creates difficulty with chewing. Pain in the mouth, stiffness or discomfort in the jaw muscles, or problems with teeth can make it tough to chew solid foods.
How bad is my chewing problem?
Mild: Usually you may have mild symptoms including mouth pain and teeth problems.
Moderate to severe: You may experience difficulty in chewing solid foods, stiffness or pain in the jaw muscles, weight loss and fatigue. It may require urgent medical assistance. It is an emergency that requires immediate treatment under your Doctor’s supervision.
How to manage mild chewing problem?
Keep track of your chewing problem using Ankr (myAnkr web portal or the Ankr app). It will help you describe the to ydiscomfortour doctor or nurse.
- Eat soft, smooth foods (yogurt or pudding).
- Try softer versions (smoothies, milkshakes, juices) of your favorite fruits or vegetables.
- Moisten dry foods with broth, sauce, butter, or milk.
- Cut food into small bites, and chew slowly.
- Choose food high in calories and protein if you are losing weight.
- Avoid dry, coarse, or hard foods.
- Avoid foods that need a lot of chewing.
- Drink meal replacement or nutritional supplement beverages.
How to manage moderate and severe chewing problem?
Seek immediate medical attention if you are having any issues or pain with chewing. Sometimes the evaluation is helps to rule out more serious underlying issues. Your doctor will look for potential neuromuscular disorders. He will also evaluate your gastrointestinal system.
What are the causes?
Chewing problem often results from changes to the mouth, jaw, or tongue. Oral and oropharyngeal cancers, cancer treatment cause chewing problems. Several side effects of cancer treatment may cause chewing problems:
- Mucositis (soreness, pain, or inflammation in the mouth).
- Xerostomia or dry mouth due to radiation therapy, chemotherapy, antidepressants, or pain medications.
- Gum disease, tooth decay, or tooth loss. These are possible long-term side effects of dry mouth, radiation therapy, or high-dose chemotherapy.
- Infections of the mouth after radiation therapy or chemotherapy.
- Pain and stiffness in the jaw muscles due to the radiation therapy to the head and neck.
- Tissue and bone loss in the jaw.
- Physical changes to the mouth, jaw, or tongue from surgery.