I'm a bit confused about all the mouthcare products I have.

I have Chlorohexidine Gluconate 0.12%. This is what the hospital gave me while I had a trach in. They used oral swabs to freshen my mouth a bit with it. I use it now as a rinse and spit mouthwash. My dentist told me to keep using that, and also to use Biotene dry mouth mouthwash, PreviDent 5000 Plus high fluoride toothpaste, a fluoride mouthwash (alcohol free), and a fluoride gel. The dentist also told me to ask about the Princess Margaret Mouthwash when I go to Toronto for a follow up next week. Both the mouthwash and the gel say not to eat / drink / rinse for 30 minutes after using. However, based on mouthcare after 3 meals and 1 snack a day (and quite a few appts etc) there doesn't seem to be enough time to leave both products on for 30 minutes. So, this is my current schedule:

4x daily, after meals/snacks - rinse with Chlorohexidine Gluconate, brush with fluoride toothpaste, rinse with fluoride mouthwash, use toothbrush to apply fluoride gel. Then I don't eat or drink for 30 minutes. I'm thinking that when the current bottle of Chlorohexidine Gluconate runs out I won't ask for a new prescription.

When I get up, and other times as needed including middle of the night - rinse with Biotene mouthwash.

Does this sound like a reasonable mouthcare schedule after surgery? Continuing on when I start radiation?

Mary

The Prevident is definitely a good idea as the teeth take a hit during radiation and the toothpaste helps with enamel loss.

Are you getting radiation at Princess Margaret Hospital? If so, ask the radiation oncologist to refer you to the dentistry department. They will probably send you anyway prior to radiation to have your teeth checked. It is right next to the Head and Neck Clinic and it’s easy to get an appointment there. You can ask all the dental questions you want there. The care (except for fillings and “regular” dental work) is covered by OHIP. They do after radiation follow-up too. So, you’ll be in good hands. The PMH mouthwash is what on this forum we call the magic mouthwash. It numbs the mouth so you can eat during radiation treatment. It’s not a mouthwash for dental hygiene. Have you had fluoride trays made? I see that you’re using a toothbrush to apply the fluoride. The trays are perhaps easier. It is like a mouth guard that you put the fluoride in and put on your teeth for something like ten minutes. You can ask your dentist to get it made for you and to order the fluoride for you.

If you’re coming to Toronto from Thunder Bay for treatment, I suppose someone has already mentioned the Lodge to you? You can stay there for the duration. If you have prefer a hotel, then the hotel near the hospital have “hospital rates.” It’s all on the Princess Margaret Hospital website.

Thanks for this info. I had surgery in Toronto because they don't have those specialists in Thunder Bay but radiation will be at home in Thunder Bay at our Cancer Clinic. I will ask them about the magic mouthwash when I am there next week for follow up appointments. I will check with them and my RO here and my dentist here about fluoride trays instead of using a toothbrush too, I have seen that mentioned in some of my reading. I don't think I'm healed up enough from surgery to have any trays made yet.

PMH did mention the Lodge to us, but we have some good friends that live in downtown TO even a few blocks closer to the hospital then the Lodge, and my partner was able to stay with them when we were in Toronto for two weeks for my surgery. Well - except she slept at the hospital the first 5 nights until they changed the trach and capped it!

Thanks lots for this info,

Mary

Mary,

If you are going for a follow-up next week, maybe you could call the dentistry dept at PMH to see if you can schedule an appointment with them on the same day. You have your patient number and that means they have your file on record, right? That will save you from traveling back and forth.

Thanks for the suggestion. It says online that you need a referral from your UHN doctor so I will talk to my doctor about that when I see him next week.