Three months out of treatment, had three fillings two weeks ago and last night developed severe toothache with one lower molar on my 'good" side very painful to touch. After waiting a couple of hours at the oral health unit at the hospital I was told that the tooth concerned has some decay around the filling, is not root filled and is on its way out. I saw a very young dentist who will give my case to the specialist dentist to figure out and they'll get back to me. She just filed it down to prevent occlusion and gave me some antibiotics. I've always had bad teeth but ... is it normal for radiation to cause decay so FAST? I am eating (or drinking) sweet things but I use a Waterpik and strong fluoride toothpaste.

I'm not tooo distressed about this - I've been through a lot worse - but it's scary how rapid the decay is ... on my good side.

Same thing happened to Kris's teeth. They just fell apart. Broke off at the gum line. It took 18 months before he got any treatment. He has had them all root canalled now by the hospital dentist. That's not the end though, one of them has again broken. He uses a high fluoride toothpaste that we get from a specialist dentist practice in town. He has a water pik.
I don't know. His teeth were always terrible and crumbly. He was at the dentist at least every 4 months for running repairs before cancer . Maybe some are more prone to this decay come what may after radiation .
Hope the Greenlane clinic can help.
Tammy

I had three teeth out on one side before rads, then I needed to go back to the dentist to refill the "good" side because they had spread apart and were catching food.

As you say its not something to be too distressed about, we've been through much worse.

Thanks, fellow Antipodeans. I'm hiding on this site right now so that I miss the first election debate on TV. I care so much that I can't bear to watch it. After this I'll go on Twitter to find out who "won" and if it is okay I'll watch it On Demand. I'm glad there's something I care about as much as my teeth!!

I hope the debate helps! The teeth are a constant battle. I had one break off at the gums at 5 years, then I had 8 ground down with crowns out on them.

It's nice to communicate with people who have the same problems but I think I've broken the speed record here: three months out and teeth are falling like dominoes:)

Same thing happened to me. My teeth were so loose I was afraid they would just fall out. I managed to hang onto them for over a year before I gave in and had them pulled. Of course that meant 20 HBO dives prior to and 10 after the extractions. I was not able to get dentures made after undergoing my third round of OC which removed half of my lower jaw. Its impossible to wear a denture if you only have half of your lower jaw for it to sit on. No matter what I look like now, inside Im still the same upbeat and optimistic person. I just know you will fare much better than I did.

You are a gorgeous person Christine.

And you are just way too kind! Thank you