Child receiving gentle laser light therapy for oral mucositis

Laser Therapy: A Gentle Revolution in Oral Cancer Care

Elliot Brynn in Health & Wellness September 2025 • 4 min read.

"Discover how low-level laser therapy is transforming the treatment of oral mucositis in cancer patients, offering a non-invasive and cost-effective solution."

Cancer treatments like chemotherapy and radiotherapy often bring challenging side effects, one of the most distressing being oral mucositis (OM). This condition starts subtly, with initial discomfort and redness, but can escalate to painful ulcers and bleeding, significantly impacting a patient's ability to eat and speak.

Severe oral mucositis can lead to serious complications, including infections, intense pain, and difficulties in swallowing and speaking. Patients often require hospitalization and may need to interrupt their cancer treatment, which can affect the overall success of their therapy.

Fortunately, low-level laser therapy (LLLT) has emerged as a promising method for preventing and treating oral mucositis. This innovative approach uses specific light wavelengths to stimulate healing and reduce inflammation, offering a non-invasive and cost-effective way to manage this challenging condition.

How Does Low-Level Laser Therapy Ease Oral Mucositis?

Child receiving gentle laser light therapy for oral mucositis

Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) uses focused light to treat and prevent oral mucositis resulting from cancer therapies. This method involves applying a monochromatic light source, which emits a narrow, high-density spectrum of light ranging from visible red to infrared. The technique is both beneficial and non-invasive, promoting analgesia and tissue repair.

The laser light enhances tissue repair by boosting blood flow, encouraging cellular movement, and aiding re-epithelialization. While LLLT has shown promise, more research is needed to optimize its application, particularly in preventive strategies. A recent study investigated how LLLT affects the occurrence of oral mucositis in patients undergoing antineoplastic therapy.

Study Design: The cross-sectional study was conducted at the Oncopediatrics sector of the Alcides Carneiro University Hospital (HUAC) in Campina Grande, Brazil.
Participants: The study included 51 children and adolescents, aged 3 to 19 years, who developed oral mucositis while undergoing antineoplastic treatment.
Data Collection: Information collected from medical records included sex, age, diagnosis, and OM classification based on WHO standards. Data on OM grade, lesion location, remission, and laser therapy protocols were also gathered.
Laser Protocol: All patients received LLLT with a specific protocol involving 3.3 J/cm² irradiation intensity, a 3 mm² spot size, and varied wavelengths depending on the OM grade. Daily laser applications were administered using 660 nm wavelengths for grade 0 OM and additional 808 nm wavelengths for grade 1 or higher.

The study revealed that most participants were male (64.7%) and aged 3–6 years (39.1%). The most common diagnosis was acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), accounting for 37.3% of cases. The majority of patients experienced grade 2 oral mucositis (41.2%), with the jugal mucosa (29.9%) and tongue (17.7%) being the most affected sites. A significant number of cases saw lesion remission within 4 to 7 days (44.0%).

The Promising Future of Laser Therapy in Cancer Support

Low-level laser therapy offers a significant advantage in managing oral mucositis, especially for young cancer patients. Its non-invasive nature and effectiveness in promoting healing make it an essential part of supportive cancer care. As research continues, LLLT holds the potential to improve the quality of life for those undergoing cancer treatment, providing relief and hope during a challenging time.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.3390/jcm7050090, Alternate LINK

Title: Evaluation Of Oral Mucositis Occurrence In Oncologic Patients Under Antineoplastic Therapy Submitted To The Low-Level Laser Coadjuvant Therapy

Subject: General Medicine

Journal: Journal of Clinical Medicine

Publisher: MDPI AG

Authors: Alessandro Leite Cavalcanti, Dário José De Macêdo, Fernanda Suely Barros Dantas, Karla Dos Santos Menezes, Diego Filipe Bezerra Silva, William Alves De Melo Junior, Alidianne Fabia Cabral Cavalcanti

Published: 2018-04-24

Everything You Need To Know

What is Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) and how does it work for oral mucositis (OM)?

Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) is a non-invasive method that uses specific light wavelengths to stimulate healing and reduce inflammation in the treatment of oral mucositis (OM). It involves applying a monochromatic light source, ranging from visible red to infrared light, promoting analgesia and tissue repair. This approach improves patient comfort and outcomes by boosting blood flow and encouraging cellular movement. The specific protocol used in the study involved a 3.3 J/cm² irradiation intensity with a 3 mm² spot size, and different wavelengths of 660 nm or 808 nm depending on the severity of the OM grade.

What is oral mucositis (OM) and why is it a concern for cancer patients?

Oral mucositis (OM) is a distressing side effect of cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy. It's characterized by inflammation and ulceration of the oral mucosa, leading to painful ulcers and bleeding, impacting the ability to eat and speak. Severe OM can lead to serious complications like infections, intense pain, and difficulties in swallowing, potentially requiring hospitalization and interruption of cancer treatment. In the study, OM was graded based on WHO standards with the most affected sites being the jugal mucosa and tongue.

Where and how was the study about Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) conducted?

The Alcides Carneiro University Hospital (HUAC) in Campina Grande, Brazil, conducted a cross-sectional study on 51 children and adolescents, aged 3 to 19 years, who developed OM during antineoplastic treatment. Data collected included sex, age, diagnosis, and OM classification based on WHO standards, OM grade, lesion location, remission, and laser therapy protocols. Most participants were male, and the most common diagnosis was acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL). The majority of patients experienced grade 2 OM. This study provides insights into the effectiveness of LLLT in a specific patient population.

Why is Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) important for cancer care?

The significance of Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) lies in its ability to manage oral mucositis effectively, improving the quality of life for cancer patients. Its non-invasive nature, ability to promote healing, and reduction of inflammation make it a valuable tool in supportive cancer care. By reducing the severity of oral mucositis, LLLT can help prevent interruptions in cancer treatment and reduce the need for hospitalization, contributing to better overall treatment outcomes. A significant number of cases saw lesion remission within 4 to 7 days. Ongoing research aims to optimize its application, particularly in prevention.

What are the potential implications of Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) for patients undergoing cancer treatment?

The potential implications of Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) are substantial, offering a promising avenue for improving outcomes for cancer patients, especially young individuals. By effectively managing oral mucositis, LLLT can lead to reduced pain, improved nutritional intake, and better overall well-being. This allows patients to better tolerate their cancer treatments, potentially leading to improved treatment efficacy. As research progresses, LLLT's role in cancer care could expand, providing broader benefits and improved quality of life for those undergoing cancer treatment.