| Joined: Feb 2013 Posts: 78 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | OP Supporting Member (50+ posts) Joined: Feb 2013 Posts: 78 | I wanted to see what dentists have prescribed to others for their teeth. I've done some digging and it seems most dentists have prescribed fluoride tray use every day but a good amount of previous posts did not say for how long each day.
My dentist gave my fluoride trays and told me to put them in 1x per week for 30 minutes and then no water/food for 30 additional minutes. She gave me Oxyfresh sodium fluoride 0.22% to use. I asked her about using it every day and she said I have good teeth with no issues and she thinks it is overkill, but if I wanted to I could do it daily.
I wanted to see what others do and if potentially this is a sign my current dentist may not be the best person to manage my dental care post radiation.
Thanks
Andrew age 25
early 10/12 - enlarged lymph node area 01/13 SCC of L tonsil, L BOT, 2 L lymph nodes stage IVa, T2N2bM0, HPV+
2/13 2 doses cisplatin big bag, 2 doses weekly cisplatin + 35x IMRT 4/13 TX finished 7/13 PET/CT - NED!
| | | | Joined: Oct 2012 Posts: 1,275 Likes: 7 Assistant Admin Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | Assistant Admin Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) Joined: Oct 2012 Posts: 1,275 Likes: 7 | At our hospital, the dental oncologists recommend five minutes daily followed by one hour of not eating and drinking. It will be for life.
Gloria She stood in the storm, and when the wind did not blow her way, she adjusted her sails... Elizabeth Edwards
Wife to John,dx 10/2012, BOT, HPV+, T3N2MO, RAD 70 gy,Cisplatinx2 , PEG in Dec 6, 2012, dx dvt in both legs after second chemo session, Apr 03/13 NED, July 2013 met to lungs, Phase 1 immunotherapy trial Jan 18/14 to July/14. Taxol/carboplatin July/14. Esophagus re-opened Oct 14. PEG out April 8, 2015. Phase 2 trial of Selinexor April to July 2015. At peace Jan 15, 2016. | | | | Joined: Jan 2013 Posts: 80 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | Supporting Member (50+ posts) Joined: Jan 2013 Posts: 80 | Hi Andrew,
Many of us, including myself, have been told to use them daily for life for at least 5 minutes though there are some variations for others. I do mine for 7-10 minutes each night before I go to bed.
There are a few other threads on the forums on this topic, so you could search 'flouride' to see previous activity.
Regards, Nancy
Nancy Age 56 at diagnosis Neck Lymph node removed 11/2012 Tonsillectomy perfomed 12/2012 - identified as primary SCC Left Tonsil with Left Node involvement, DX 12/2012 RX started 1/29/2013, finished 3/23/2013; Daily IMRT (35 Sessions) Weekly Taxol/Carboplatin (6 weeks) PEG placed after week 4 (3/1/2013) PEG removed 6 1/2 months later (8/12/2013) | | | | 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 | I started using 1.1% Sodium Fluoride one month before radiation began and continued for 5 years post Tx. I had near perfect teeth to begin with and I still do today some 7 years post Tx. My dentist told me to apply a thin strip in each tray, upper & lower and put them in for 30 mins each night right before I went to bed. I was able to do probably 95% of the Tx time and afterwards. Some nights I couldn't because of the pain and some nights I couldn't find them because of my cats but that's another story!
I found Cypress at my pharm which is/was substantially cheaper than most of the other products I found.
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.
| | | | Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,264 Likes: 5 "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,264 Likes: 5 | HI... ditto what everyone else here has said. They should be used daily, for 5 minutes followed by 1 hour of no food or drink.
Cheryl : Irritation - 2004 BX: 6/2008 : Inflam. BX: 12/10, DX: 12/10 : SCC - LS tongue well dif. T2N1M0. 2/11 hemigloss + recon. : PND - 40 nodes - 39 clear. 3/11 - 5/11 IMRT 33 + cis x2, PEG 3/28/11 - 5/19/11 3 head, 2 chest scans - clear(fingers crossed) HPV-, No smoke, drink, or drugs, Vegan
| | | | Joined: Mar 2013 Posts: 421 Likes: 1 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | Platinum Member (300+ posts) Joined: Mar 2013 Posts: 421 Likes: 1 | Hi Andrew,
My dentist recommended I use a kid's fluoride rinse (Listerine) as opposed to trays. I use it twice a day (am and pm) after brushing. It has a pleasant taste and doesn't hurt my mouth.
"T"
57 Cardiac bypass 11/07 Cardiac stents 10/2012 Dx'd 11/30/2012 Tx N2b MO Stage IV HPV+ Palatine Tonsillectomy/Biopsies 12-21-12 Selective Neck Dissection/Lingual Tonsillectomy/biopsies TORS 2/7/13 Emergency Surgery/Bleeding 2/18/13 3/13/2013 30rads/6chemo Finished Tx 4/24/13 NED Since
| | | | Joined: May 2009 Posts: 132 Senior Member (100+ posts) | Senior Member (100+ posts) Joined: May 2009 Posts: 132 | Hi, Andrew -
My dentist/prosthodontist said to leave them in for 10 minutes (at night, after brushing and flossing) and then not to eat or drink at all after that. He knows some dentists say it's okay to drink water an hour after, but my guy prefers that I don't.
You've gotten a lot of good advice from others here, too. It sounds like everybody does it a little bit differently!
Chrissy
Stage 2 SCC upper right palate Hemi-palatectomy and maxillectomy 5/28/09 Six teeth gone IMRT x30 starts July 13. Completed 8/26/09 Carboplatin and Taxol x6 starting 7/14/09. Completed 8/25/09.
| | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 595 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 595 | My ENT and MO have me use them nightly for at least five minutes each night for life, I use 1.1% flouride!!! Semper-Fi Bob
Bob age 57, non smoker,non drinker, ended treatment on 11 Nov 2007 and started back to work on 29 Nov 2007. Veterans Day 2012 the Battle was lowered, folded, Taps was played and the Flag buried as I am know a 5 year survivor. Semper-FI !!!
| | | | Joined: Feb 2013 Posts: 78 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | OP Supporting Member (50+ posts) Joined: Feb 2013 Posts: 78 | Thanks for all the replies. I'll check locally for some 1.1% fluoride and switch to daily use, seems like it cant hurt.
Andrew age 25
early 10/12 - enlarged lymph node area 01/13 SCC of L tonsil, L BOT, 2 L lymph nodes stage IVa, T2N2bM0, HPV+
2/13 2 doses cisplatin big bag, 2 doses weekly cisplatin + 35x IMRT 4/13 TX finished 7/13 PET/CT - NED!
| | | | Joined: Nov 2009 Posts: 493 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | Platinum Member (300+ posts) Joined: Nov 2009 Posts: 493 | My dentist and hygienist told me the same thing. Five minutes everyday with nothing to eat or drink at least a half hour after. Also, I will be doing this for life.
Female, nonsmoker, 70, diag. 5/09 after tongue biopsy: stage IV. Left hemi-gloss. and left selec. neck disec. 30 lymph nodes removed May 20. Over 7 weeks daily rads. with three chemo. PEG removed 12/4/09 Am eating mostly soft foods. Back to work 11/09 Retired 4/1/11. 7 clear scans! Port out 9/11. 2/13. It's back: base of tongue, very invasive surgery involving lifestyle changes. 2/14: Now speaking w/Passey-Muir valve. Considering a swallow study. Grateful to be alive.
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