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The Mouth Cancer Foundation Online Support Group Mouth Cancer Forums Members Forums General Chat dry mouth / salivaGo | New | Find | Notify | Tools | Reply | |
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Hi , Just a quick question about saliva & the dry mouth feeling, does the saliva return after the radiotherapy and how long will it take to return also is there anything better than drinking water constantly to keep the mouth moist someone mentioned gel of some sort. | |||
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Hi Chris, I am currently having acupuncture treatment for dry mouth. Reasonable success to date. I believe that the return of saliva varies with most sufferers of dry mouth. U must accept that u may never fully recover your saliva glans. Regards Bill Diagnosed with throat cancer March 2005 Surgery - April 2005 Six-weeks radiotherapy | ||||
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My Husband Ray used Biotene gel during radiotherapy treatment,the dry mouth now only occurs during the night.He also used biotene toothpaste and mouthwash.I'm sure its available on prescription.Worth a try. | ||||
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To be honest Chris, there is no magic potion out there but there is a few useful aids. Its been nearly three years since my Radiotherapy and I still can't eat toast / sandwiches / dry foods without the aid of fluids after every mouthful but it has improved slowly over time. But as Bill said, for most of us, we will simply have to put up with it as a long term side effect of treatment. Biotene is ok at night but it does tend to make your mouth feel very sticky. Another alternative is Glandosane.....which comes comes in a little pocket sized Aerosol spray and comes in Lemon and Peppermint flavours. I still use these occasionally when i'm out as they are more refreshing and easier to use than Biotene. | |||
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Hello Chris The mouth is often dry as a result of the radiotherapy. The taste (and saliva flow) does improve with time  with everyone having some variability depending on the radiation dose and portals.You can get Biotene samples of products that help with the dry mouth.You could also try sucking SST lozenges. Vicky has mentioned Salagen tablets that your doctor can prescribe to help stimulate saliva flow. The vast majority of things you need to help you through feeding, gels and mouth washes are available via NHS prescription. If you register and obtain a £32 NHS Certificate you can get most things for free which includes, Ensure, packs of 27 at a time, a full range of products for Xerostomia [dry mouth] (Bioxtra Moisturising Gel; Glandosane; Luborant; Biotene Oralbalance Dry Mouth Saliva Replacement Gel; Saliva Orthana; SST lozenges, Saliveze; Salivix). Just ask your GP and get a three month certificate and stock up! There is more information on what your GP can prescribe at these BNF links: Treatment of Dry Mouth and Foods which may be prescribed. Access to the text of the current BNF website requires registration (which is free) and login. Best wishes Vinod  Disclaimer: Please see your own dentist/doctor for a proper diagnosis as my words should not, in any circumstances, be taken as dental/medical advice. "If you see what is small as it sees itself, and accept what is weak for what strength it has, and use what is dim for the light it gives, then all will go well. This is called Acting Naturally." Lao-Tsu, Tao Teh King | |||
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Sometime ago I came across a device from Saliwell Medical System that claimed to stimulate saliva flow. I have recently visited Viv Thomas's throat cancer blog. He describes a positive experience with it:
It would be good to know if others find it helpful. Best wishes Vinod Disclaimer: Please see your own dentist/doctor for a proper diagnosis as my words should not, in any circumstances, be taken as dental/medical advice. "If you see what is small as it sees itself, and accept what is weak for what strength it has, and use what is dim for the light it gives, then all will go well. This is called Acting Naturally." Lao-Tsu, Tao Teh King | |||
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I used Biotene but found normal chewing gum helped stimulate my saliva glands quite a lot. It's still not brilliant but it's bearable. Hagg. 13 years and still kicking it. Never give up your fight. | ||||
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Hi there! long time no post! I am currently having acupuncture for my dry mouth. It seems to work- i don't wake up in the night as much with that awful mucus stuck to the top of my mouth. Still have to have drink water with my meals but certainly not as much. Also it has stimulated my appetite (unbeknown to me)so i am putting on weight now. Can now drink white wine neat! Cheers! Anne | |||
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My husband is just getting back into the swing of swallowing (the heaviest radiation was aimed at the base of his tongue/throat), so he hasn't been able to swallow much water yet. He's finding the spray product Stoppers-4 Dry Mouth helpful during the day and at night -- compared to some other products, it doesn't have as much flavor added, which he prefers. (He also rinses his mouth with diluted Biotene mouthwash quite frequently.) Susan | |||
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Hi all, Just a question for my knowledge - how many of you'll have a permanent stoma and how many have a temperory one? Love, Ananth Live on your beliefs and strength- and you will become immortal. | |||
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Hi Mine as improved in the last 10 Months its still dry have to have a lot of gravy or custard with food some foods i cant eat Doctor prescribed salagen tablets and i use AS saliva Orthana mouth spray and bioextra toothpaste gel and mouthrinse Dave and Sue | |||
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Gravy is a definate no no for me it taste likes spoonfuls on salt to me  I am ok with sauces but cannt chew much so everthing has to be chopped up small. I find I eat more when I chop it allup first. I cannot understand howI am puttin gon weight as everything has to be thought about before I can et, cannot jusp pick up a banana or piece of choclate and eat eat it so wonder why im getting fat? I stopped eating ice cream I was eating at least 2 litres a week but that was ages ago. My taste buds seem to change from one meal to the next sometimes everthing is sweet or salty or acidy cannot win. Paul | |||
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Hello, I am a dental hygiene and therapy student am doing a project on oral cancer and wanted to know what help/information was given to you regarding your oral health during cancer therapy and the side effects? what help did you recieve from health professionals about your oral health? you can email me on ha07605@qmul.ac.uk | ||||
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hi there its almost a year since my treatment ended and i am still suffering from a lack of saliva.i spoke to my oncologist and he said a year is still not very far to expect much improvent.i do have a little bit more saliva then i did at first but its still not enough biscuits or bread have to be washed down with a drink or it just gets stuck in my throat because of the dryness.i do find that chewing gum helps my mouth to stay a little moist especially if i am going out.otherwise i have to keep sipping water.i am still waiting for my taste buds to return.i miss food so much.at the moment i am having 4 rich tea biscuits and half a slice of toast a day,plus i have one feed via the peg daily.thank goodness for my daily feed i think i would have faded away if not for that lol.hope you get some relief sooner rather than later.love shirl xxx | ||||
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Saliva Substitutes: Choosing and prescribing the right product
Disclaimer: Please see your own dentist/doctor for a proper diagnosis as my words should not, in any circumstances, be taken as dental/medical advice. "If you see what is small as it sees itself, and accept what is weak for what strength it has, and use what is dim for the light it gives, then all will go well. This is called Acting Naturally." Lao-Tsu, Tao Teh King | |||
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