Can anybody help me. I'm 18 months cancer free after massive chemo/rad treatment. Still have the dry mouth (although sucking/chewing slivers of ginger helps) and my teeth are starting to deteriorate, chipping sensitive gums and enamel wearing. Since using the ginger it's been a lot better however.

I'm reading on the site about non SLF products (Biotene) and would appreciate any advice on what may help and how natural (chemical free) these products are.

I'm currently using Colgate sesitive with SLF in it and having flouride tooth treatments in a mould every 2 or 3 months or so.

Many thanks

Phil Challenger

Hi Phil,
I use the Biotene oral balance gel (recommended by my surgeon)..I only use this at night as this is when i get a particularly dry mouth. It seems to be fairly user friendly and as my surgeon thinks its ok then i trust his judgement. Regarding toothpaste i have started using Herbal Toothpaste and Gum Therapy which is made by a company called the Natural Dentist. It is SLS free but contains natural flouride with a touch of baking soda which will do you no harm. I find it doesnt sting your mouth nearly half as much as off the shelf products but it is expensive. I paid nearly a fiver for a tube last week. Im not sure where you are based but i got it from my local health food shop. I also have another toothpaste (still to be used) called Calendula. This is made by a company called Weleda. Again this was from the health food shop and contains no SLS. This was a bit cheaper at £2.55.
Hope this info helps you.
Cheers
Phil

Hello Phil

If your teeth are presently in good health, you can try keeping them so. The teeth are at risk from the dry mouth caused by lack of saliva. The teeth go soft and the enamel erodes. This often called 'radiation caries'. You can find out more about this complication and how to care for your mouth and teeth at the MCF Website section on Complications.

The advice given in this previous post on oral hygiene will help you look after your teeth.

Best wishes
Vinod

Philip,

I have a big problem with dry mouth in the evening as well. My mouth and throat get so dry that I wake up in the middle of the night once or twice. This has become very disruptive to my sleep and recovery. Does the Biotene Gel work well for you in the evening. I will pick some up today if this will help.

I was diagnosed in June and finished radiation/chemo Nov 11th.

Thank You,

Sandra R

Hi Phil

I had treatment in 2004/5 for mouth/tongue cancer that has left me with a dry mouth too. I use "Duraphat 2800ppm Fluoride Toothpaste" that I get from the chemist (they order it in for me on request) it costs £5 approx but I have found it to be very good. I also use Listerine antibacterial mouthwash twice a day. I never leave home without my bottle of water. i tried Biotene gel but it did not work for me, ask at the chemist as sometimes they give you a free sampler test pack that includes some chewing gum. I find chewing gum helps me a lot - just the normal sugar free stuff - not really sure why it works but it does! I also have three monthly appointments with the dental hygienist fos a scale and polish - expensive but worth it!

I am gradually eating better as time goes by although I am still not able to enjoy toast yet for my breakfast.

Wishing you all the best for your continued recovery and for the future.

Sheila

Hi everyone, I use duraphat 5000 toothpaste which you can buy - but I get it on prescription
as i have a prepayment card. It's the strongest flouride toothpaste you can get and reccommended by my dentist. I brush with it and also smear it on my teeth thinly at night to give added protection. I also use flourigard mouthwash after meals. The biotene gel is brill at night for a dry mouth- I don't wake up any more with that very uncomfortable dryness.
I went to the dentist yesterday and she is very pleased with my teeth especially my gums- she reiterated how important it is to floss-I also use a waterpik which you can get from the chemist-a stronger way of flossing!
I still have sensitive teeth due to all the treatment and she is going to put stuff on next time to help with that.

Smile brilliantly!
Anne

Sheila and Anne,


Thank You for the suggestions. I will check to see if they carry this toothpaste in the states.

I will invest in the Listerene and Biotene Gel as well.

Best Regards,

Sandra R

Hi Sandra, it certainly helps me although it doesn't last all day and is quite expensive at around £7 a tube but its better than nothing and tastes quite pleasant. Try it and see. Cheers Phil

quote:

Originally posted by Sandra R:
Philip,

I have a big problem with dry mouth in the evening as well. My mouth and throat get so dry that I wake up in the middle of the night once or twice. This has become very disruptive to my sleep and recovery. Does the Biotene Gel work well for you in the evening. I will pick some up today if this will help.

I was diagnosed in June and finished radiation/chemo Nov 11th.

Thank You,

Sandra R

Hello Phil and Sandra

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. Your doctor can also prescribe Salagen tablets to help stimulate saliva flow.

The vast majority of things you need to help you through feeding, gels and mouth washes are available to mouth cancer patients in the U.K. 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

Dr.Vinod,

Thank You so much. I really need some relief. This is great information. You really take such an interest in the group. We have many Websites in the U.S. that are extremely informative but I haven't seen a professional dedicate their time such as yourself. We could use a Dr.Vinod in the U.S.

Thanks Again,

P.S. Thank You for raising the question. Very helpful.

Good Morning Sandra, Sorry you can't have him we need him here
Keep Smiling
John

John,

Ok, just for now.


Sandra

Hi Sandra

I'm using Oral-B Stop for my teeth and it makes a huge difference to my oral hygiene. I get it on the internet from the US as it's not readily available over the counter here, but you should not have any problem. My dentist was amazed that she had no plaque to remove for the 1st time in many years!

As for the dry mouth - well I guess I just have to accept that it will never be back to how it was before the treatment - but at least I'm still around to comment, so I'm grateful for that

Cheers - Pete

Hi, I too suffered from a persistently dry mouth, following a radical next section, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The advice I was given by my radio and oncology consultant was to forget the proprietary gums and gel and to chew sugarfree chewing gum! I can testify to this. (and I don't own shares in Wrigleys!) It's a relatively cheap thing to try and see whether it works for you.

best regards, Robert WT

I had awful problems with Dry Mouth since completing treatment for base of tongue cancer in July 2010. Constant drinking, gels, sprays and synthetic saliva’ 24/7/ became unbearable. I found in the US a Colonel Richard Niemtzow who discovered, developed and still practices his Dry Mouth treatment in Maryland.USA. He also created battlefield acupuncture and is the world renowned authority on these treatments.

I exhausted places in the UK to be treated with his protocol. so visited him July 9th, 2011 and within the first of only two sessions was able to produce saliva again. No more gels, sprays and synthetic saliva since this date and unbroken sleep since.

I was profoundly affected at the results of the treatment so started in the UK The Dry Mouth Foundation. www.drymouthfoundation.org. but you could visit the colonel via his website www.n5ev.com

Let me know how you get on.

Terry Gannon.
Dry Mouth Foundation.