Your gums can't heal as well and I think damage is done to the blood supply in the bone. It can get bad when infection sets in or an accident ocurrs to your teeth.

I am so worried about it I am selling my saxophone because I am afraid I might hit my mouth with it while playing it.

Age 52, T2 N0 M0 SCC of left anterior floor of mouth. Esophagoscopy, Direct laryngoscopy, Resection of left anterior FOM lesion w/ lateral tongue. left selective neck dissection levels I-IV. 5x6cm skin graft coverng excision. Finished 33-35 rad Tx. False recurrence 12-22-10 last surgery 2-15-10