Mouth problems are common in palliative care. Problems such as dry, sore mouth, halitosis and taste changes can lead to:

• Difficulty with speech
  
• Reduced nutritional intake
  
• Increased risk of local infection, leading to more systemic infection in an immune-compromised patient
  
• Reduced social interaction due to embarrassment (especially halitosis)

Causes of mouth problems include:

• Medications (which often dry the mouth including opioids)
  
• Reduced salivary function (patient perception or treatment related)
  
• Oral candidiasis – a common systemic fungal infection with various presentations
  
• Poor dentition or oral hygiene prior to illness
  
• Diet
  
• Treatment related (e.g. radiotherapy to head and neck, chemotherapy – burning mouth syndrome)