Nearly three weeks after surgery and finding it hard to clean my mouth. I can't gargle and swish and I'm almost out of the green swabs supplied by the hospital. Someone gave me a little pointed syringe to swish water onto the flap but I'm struggling with that, getting my body wetter than my mouth.

I have long thought of investing in a waterpik but feel that right now would be too early to use it. I need a gentler, more manageable syringe than the one I've got and I'm going to have to order some swabs online. There doesn't seem to be a New Zealand outlet.

I have a very stiff jaw which also makes things hard.

Any ideas?

1996, ovarian cancer surgery + cisplatin and taxol.
September, 2007, SCC of left lateral tongue. Excision.
October, 2009 recurrence in scar tissue, T1NOMO. Free flap surgery from left wrist - neck dissection. 63 year old New Zealander. No chemo, no RT.
February, 2014. New primary in left buccal mucosa. Marginal mandibulectomy, neck dissection, right arm free forearm flap. T1N0M0 but third occurrence and some areas of concern: RT started 8 April and finished 19 May.