Jingle Bell,
Radiation does more damage to the inside of the mouth than does the surgery. I actually was able to eat more after surgery than I was able to after radiation. The radiation damages not only the taste buds but the salivary glands, and that makes it hard to chew. I still am constantly rinsing out my mouth. This also effects speech. My mouth is worse in the morning.

Female, nonsmoker, 70, diag. 5/09 after tongue biopsy: stage IV. Left hemi-gloss. and left selec. neck disec. 30 lymph nodes removed May 20. Over 7 weeks daily rads. with three chemo. PEG removed 12/4/09 Am eating mostly soft foods. Back to work 11/09 Retired 4/1/11. 7 clear scans! Port out 9/11. 2/13. It's back: base of tongue, very invasive
surgery involving lifestyle changes. 2/14: Now speaking w/Passey-Muir valve. Considering a swallow study. Grateful to be alive.