Specialist areas
Sore mouth and throat
If you have a sore mouth and throat after treatment then you will probably have difficulty in chewing foods. Try to make moist meals by adding gravy, sauces, butter, margarine, milk, custard and/or cream. Soften foods by mincing, liquidising, mashing and chopping.
For example:
- Fish in parsley sauce
- Shepherds pie
- Creamy pasta dishes
- Soft cauliflower cheese
- Custard
- Milk puddings
- Yoghurt
- Trifle
- Milky porridge
- Ice-cream
- Whips
Avoid dry, rough foods, e.g. toast, crisps, raw vegetables.
If you cannot manage soft foods then try chilled or frozen nourishing drinks and supplement drinks, e.g. full fat milkshakes, full fat milk, yoghurt drinks, Complan, Build-up, which can be obtained at supermarkets and/or chemists.
- Eat “little and often” if you cannot manage normal size meals.
- Avoid spicy foods, e.g. pepper, chilli, curry and very salty foods such as crisps, Marmite. Try to have a blander diet.
- Avoid acidic foods and drinks, e.g. citrus, vinegar. Try less-acidic fruit juices, e.g. apple, peach, blackcurrant, pear juices and dilute with water if necessary.
- Try drinking with a straw.
- Eat foods that are room temperature/chilled, as hot and frozen foods could hurt your mouth.
- If you have dentures only put them in when you are about to eat.
- Contact your doctor if you mouth is very painful.