Nasopharyngeal cancer patients should pay attention to the choice of toothbrush when taking care of their oral cavity

Nasopharyngeal cancer patients should pay attention to oral hygiene care during the recovery period after chemotherapy. Because it is easy for bacteria to grow in the mouth, it is not conducive to the recovery of nasopharyngeal cancer patients. Patients should keep their mouths clean by brushing their teeth and rinsing their mouths after three meals and before going to bed. Before radiotherapy, teeth must be kept clean and dental diseases must be treated to avoid reduced local resistance after radiotherapy. For example, tooth extraction can cause extensive bone necrosis. The choice of toothbrush is crucial. There are many types and brands of toothbrushes on the market. Nasopharyngeal cancer patients should pay attention to the size, hardness and angle of the toothbrush head when choosing.

1. The size of the toothbrush head: The length of the toothbrush head should be 2.5 to 3 cm, the width should be 0.8 to 1 cm, there should be 2 to 4 rows of bristles, with 5 to 12 bundles of bristles in each row, and the front end of the toothbrush head should be round and blunt.

2. Hardness of bristles: Bristles are generally divided into three types: soft, neutral, and hard. Normally, a neutral hardness toothbrush is used, while a soft bristle toothbrush is more suitable for nasopharyngeal cancer patients. When buying a toothbrush, press the bristles with your fingers. If your fingers feel a tingling sensation, it means that the bristles are too hard and should not be used. Currently, most toothbrushes on the market have nylon bristles. The elasticity, uniformity, and hardness of nylon bristles are better than those of pig hair toothbrushes, and are more conducive to oral health.

3. Selection of brush head and handle angles: There are two types of toothbrushes on the market: straight and angled. Straight toothbrushes are more powerful when used, and angled toothbrushes are better for cleaning back teeth. The best angle is 17 to 20 degrees. Patients with nasopharyngeal cancer should choose an angled toothbrush, which can effectively clean oral hygiene.