| | Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 167 Senior Member (100+ posts) | OP  Senior Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 167 | I would say my dry mouth is probably mild compared to most. If I breathe through my mouth or try any amount of exercise then I'm grabbing for the water bottle. I saw this gum today called "Quench Mouth Watering Gum for Active People" at the running store - thought I'd try it and see if it would do anything for my exercise induced dry mouth and WOW did it! Not sure if it's the tartness or not but my saliva glands went into overdrive! Really - I thought I was going to drool! My taste buds are still funky from radiation and I couldn't actually taste if it was tart or not so I really have no idea how it elicited so much saliva production but I thought I'd share with you all just in case any of you thought it was worth a try.
Looks like it has sugar in it but part of what makes us so high risk for dental issues is the dry mouth - so perhaps the saliva takes care of the sugar! I'm not a dentist so won't even guess any further on that!
Jennifer (39)
02/10 SCCa Tongue & Base, HPV-
03/10 Partial Glossectomy & ND 11/10 Revision due to additional nodes 12/20-2/2/11 IMRT & concommitant chemo 2/11 PEG in 3/11 PEG out
Back at work and feeling good 03/24/11!
12/20/11 - 9 month f/u PET/CT - all clear!
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,409 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,409 | I recall trying that Quench gum some years ago just for kicks for hiking and thought it was interesting and strange. Maybe I'll pick some up now again. The sugar issue is something to think about for sure but I'd think that in small doses and with all the rest of the dental care we all do (Biotene paste and mouthwash and nightly fluoride trays for me)it should be ok.
My dentist cousin recommended that I chew "tons of gum with Xylitol". Well, I don't chew tons since I don't really enjoy chewing gum... but I do keep it on hand for dog walks. The one with the most Xylitol according to the label seems to be Trident Xtra Care so that's the one I buy. I know that Biotene makes a gum too but it seems kind of expensive.
I did invest in some Xylitol candy, it's called Sparx and you can find it online. Not especially tasty... hard little balls that just taste kind of sweet. But I assume it's doing me some good.
There's also "Rain" spray with Xylitol that I bought online as well and always forget to use! Oh well.
Thanks for the reminder on the Crunch, Jennifer.
Hey and congrats on the clear scans!!
David 2
SCC of occult origin 1/09 (age 55)| Stage III TXN1M0 | HPV 16+, non-smoker, moderate drinker | Modified radical neck dissection 3/09 | 31 days IMRT finished 6/09 | Hit 15 years all clear in 6/24 | Radiation Fibrosis Syndrome kicked in a few years after treatment and has been progressing since | Prostate cancer diagnosis 10/18
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 | Have you tried Biotene's gum? I am not that bothered with the DM now and their gum is perfect for me and it's sugar free.
David
Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
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