Hi All, I searched old posts about chewing gum, but I'm still not clear on whether there is any harm to trying regular sugar-free gum in addition to Biotene gun.

My husband chews Biotene gum frequently but would like some other options, if not harmful.

I haven't been on the boards recently due to trying to live and adjust to our new life. Looks like we have a future to look forward to as Sept will be 2 years post treatment! We're grateful and thankful for all the help I found here. Lottie

Both Brian and DavidCPA have weighed in on the Biotene gum issue. It would appear to be the most complete product out there. I myself chew Trident with Xylitol on the advice of my dentist cousin. But I'm going to my regular dentist tomorrow and if he has any additional words of wisdom I'll pass them on.

Congrats on the two years upcoming!

David (er, 2)

Xylitol as a sweeter is a good thing, in gums and other things - it is actually cariostatic. But too much of it has been known to cause diarrhea in some, so I guess you would want to test your tolerance before counting on it 100%. Congrats on the important 2 year mark!

Thank you Brian and David2.

Last year I decided that any monetary donations that I make would go solely to OCF. I do get annoyed with the vast publicity presence of other cancers. When I get solicitations, including organizations that I've supported in the past, I inform them of this decision, and some how it makes me feel a ittle better. Is this a rational way to determine research dollars - based on "popular cancers"? Lottie

We thank you for your confidence and support, at our size every dollar counts. The big charities, like ACS that takes in a billion dollars a year, or some of the large charities that take in hundreds of millions a year, have business models that allow them to grow by servicing just the four big cancers, or one of them. Truth is, that oral cancer with an incidence rate of only 36,000 people a year (vs 225,000 for breast for instance) and a higher death rate as a percentage of those diagnosed than other cancers (47% at 5 years); we will never build the hundreds of thousands of survivors and supporters who become long term donors and volunteers for the big guys. The math just isn't there. So those who are touched by this disease are small in numbers, survivors are fewer, and keeping a non profit alive that is dedicated to this specific disease is a bad business model. We continue because of all of you who donate regularly, even small amounts, and those that volunteer. Thank you for being part of the solution, and voting for a change in this specific disease with your dollars donated.

I can not chew Biotene, for some reason it dries my mouth out even more. I chew the trident, and it works wonders.

My dental hygienist told me about Xylitol candy yesterday and I've ordered some. I did read about associated digestive problems, as Brian mentioned, so I'll be very interested to see what happens with it!

d2

Hello David2:
Where can you find the Trident with Xylitol gum? I found Trident White Cool Bubble sugar free gum and loved it until I started having problems. Then my gastro doctor asked me if I was using anything that was sweetened with sugar free Sorbitol. When I checked the ingredients, that was the first item mentioned. As it turns out, Sorbitol is a form of LAXATIVE. A Compound Pharmacy that has a gum sweetened with Xylitol mentioned that when first using it, you might have frequent bowel movements, but after a while they stop. That's not true with products sweetened with Sorbitol. Anyway, the gum from the Compound Pharmacy burns my tongue, so thought I'd try the gum you mentioned, but can't find it in the stores. Do you order it? Thanks for any information.

julieann

Here's a place I bought it online, when I tried it before settling on Biotene.

http://www.xlear.com

Thanks, Brian. I just ordered some. Hope it works for me.
julieann