| | Joined: Sep 2012 Posts: 64 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | OP  Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2012 Posts: 64 | All throughout treatment I've been told to use a saline or saline and bicarb rinse and I have. Now that I'm experiencing dry mouth I haven't used it for awhile as I'm concerned that it will dry my mouth even more. On the other hand, it might stimulate the saliva glands. Any thoughts?
Stage 3-4 Squamous BOT diagnosed 3/19/12
Molars removed 3/29/12
(Cisplatin) inpatient: 4/11/12-4/16/12; 5/2/12-5/9/12; 5/29/12-6/4/12
Feeding tube: 8/9/12-11/21/12
Radiation 8/10/12-8/29/12
Chemo 1X/week 8/10/12-8/22/12
Last PET/CT clear: 9/17/13
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 | Using the baking soda/salt/warm water rinse will help neutralize the ph balance in your mouth. It can so easily be thrown off when you do radiation then the dry mouth hits. It worked very well for me so I continued to rinse my mouth for 3 years. But I went thru OC 3 times almost back to back so thats why I kept using the rinse. It certainly cant hurt anything.
ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive  | | | | | Joined: Sep 2012 Posts: 64 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | | OP Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2012 Posts: 64 | That doesn't answer my question. The reason that I posed the question is that it seems that every time I eat something salty or rinse with the salt solution my mouth is drier for a noticeable length of time, seemingly proportionate to the amount of salt taken in.
Given how awful and prevalent dry mouth is, it's discouraging to find out that there doesn't seem to be much research about it or ways to alleviate it. My radiation doc told me that the research that has been done shows that saliva increases 4% a month. Of course, like anything else, some people will do better and some worse.
I hate it and am willing to try anything that seems reasonable to alleviate it.
Last edited by LeftyS7; 11-09-2012 10:33 PM.
Stage 3-4 Squamous BOT diagnosed 3/19/12
Molars removed 3/29/12
(Cisplatin) inpatient: 4/11/12-4/16/12; 5/2/12-5/9/12; 5/29/12-6/4/12
Feeding tube: 8/9/12-11/21/12
Radiation 8/10/12-8/29/12
Chemo 1X/week 8/10/12-8/22/12
Last PET/CT clear: 9/17/13
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2012 Posts: 111 "OCF across the pond" Senior Member (100+ posts) | | "OCF across the pond" Senior Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Apr 2012 Posts: 111 | Hi LeftyS7, I had problems with a sore mouth and and thrush during treatment and I now have a very dry mouth so I know what you are experiencing. In fact your treatment is pretty similar to mine, as I had 10 back teeth out to start with and I am still getting bits of bone coming through causing a sore tongue! Throughout my treatment I rinsed with a bicarb sol but I couldn't tolerate it with salt. I still use the bicarb after everytime I eat, mainly to neutralise the acids, but it also seems to relive my dry mouth for a while too. So I would say definitely keep using the bicarb but leave out the salt. Hopefully you will find it helps the dryness too.
I am on an constant look out for new products for a dry mouth too. I can be feeling not too bad then as soon as I start talking or being active it goes like sandpaper! I am learning to live with it by always having a water bottle (various sizes for different occasions)and I carry a tube of Biotene in my pocket for when I get caught talking to someone without having water handy. At night I use a 50% solution of Biotene spray diluted with water for when I wake up.
There is still plenty of time for us both to improve a bit. I am hopeful of the magic 18mth milestone for improvement. Sally
Dx 10/11 51yrs LBOT Stage 4 2nodes HPV16+. Non-smoker mod alcohol.
10/11 Induction chemox2 (Docetaxel, 5-Flu, Cisplatin) then Cisplatinx2 IMRTx30. Ended 01/13/12.
12/07/11 RIG. RIG removed 05/05/12.
4/12 CT scan clear. Visual scope checks clear as of 10/13. Learning to live with eating challenges.
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2012 Posts: 111 "OCF across the pond" Senior Member (100+ posts) | | "OCF across the pond" Senior Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Apr 2012 Posts: 111 | This may answer your question. I have just come across this leaflet from the UK Oxford Centre for Head and Neck Oncology on management of dry mouth after cancer treatment. They recommend saline solution mouthwashes as a saliva stimylant, http://www.oxfordradcliffe.nhs.uk/forpatients/090427patientinfoleaflets/101028soremouth.pdf They also mention BioXtra gel, which I have just tried as a replacement for Biotene which is not available in the UK at the moment. It seems much better then Biotene which i find stings a bit. Sally
Dx 10/11 51yrs LBOT Stage 4 2nodes HPV16+. Non-smoker mod alcohol.
10/11 Induction chemox2 (Docetaxel, 5-Flu, Cisplatin) then Cisplatinx2 IMRTx30. Ended 01/13/12.
12/07/11 RIG. RIG removed 05/05/12.
4/12 CT scan clear. Visual scope checks clear as of 10/13. Learning to live with eating challenges.
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2012 Posts: 64 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | | OP Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2012 Posts: 64 |
Stage 3-4 Squamous BOT diagnosed 3/19/12
Molars removed 3/29/12
(Cisplatin) inpatient: 4/11/12-4/16/12; 5/2/12-5/9/12; 5/29/12-6/4/12
Feeding tube: 8/9/12-11/21/12
Radiation 8/10/12-8/29/12
Chemo 1X/week 8/10/12-8/22/12
Last PET/CT clear: 9/17/13
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