5-Fluorouracil (5-FU)

Oral health effects

• Oral mucositis

  5-FU is strongly associated with severe oral mucositis.

  Mechanism: Direct cytotoxic injury to rapidly dividing mucosal epithelium.

  Clinical management: Pre-treatment dental clearance, basic oral care protocols, bland rinses, topical analgesia; oncology coordination. Cryotherapy helps with some bolus regimens.

• Infection & bleeding risk (myelosuppression)

  Neutropenia and thrombocytopenia raise the risk of oral infection and bleeding.

  Clinical management: Defer elective invasive care during neutropenic/thrombocytopenic nadirs; coordinate counts with oncology.