Hello, Roxs. Karen is absolutely correct when she says those of us who had IMRT, including you, now, regained a good deal of salivary function. At 5 weeks I wasn't eating anything by mouth because it was still so burned and sore. The saliva will return very slowly. I remember very clearly the first time I licked an envelope! At one year you will probably not need a water bottle, and maybe sooner as we are all different. At any rate, you are on a normal track and it will only get better. Once treatment is finished, patience is in short supply, but it really is downhill from here on out. Hang on!