Dry Mouth
Radiotherapy
Dry mouth after irradiation-induced damage is caused by sterilization of the gland's stem cells, preventing replenishment of other saliva-producing cells.
This can be brought about by typical radiation therapy for head and neck cancers or even MRIs and CT Scans. While these procedures has become quite popular in clinical cancer treatment, it is unfortunate that the side-affects have become so far-reaching.
Radiation is measured in Grays, or the absorption of 1 Joule of ionizing radiation per kilogram of human tissue
- Severe dry mouth is usually avoided if one parotid gland is spared of a dose of about 20 Grays of radiation. Typical necrosis patient's receive chemotherapy doses of 60 Grays.
