After one week of IMRT centered around my tongue and neck, I had felt blessed with no side effects, yet. That was until last night before bed my lower gums in front started to bleed after gentle brushing. Now that I think about it, the skin just below my upper lip is already showing some redness.

Am I being hypersensitive or should I plan on loosing my lower front teeth as a result of the radiation? The mind plays tricks, sometimes.

I know it's a little thing, but y'all are the only ones I can ask and get an intelligent, unbiased reply.

David,

I have not heard of seeing issues like yours so soon after starting treatment. Was there a dentist on your medical team that examined and xrayed your teeth before you started treatment? Did you have any PET/CT scans or CT with contrast prior to treatment?

I know of several people that have experienced minor gum bleeding during radiation but after several weeks of treatement.

I am not a dentist but I would suggest you see one to ease your mind.

Ed

Ed,

Dental health is good. Saw a dentist the Friday before radiation started. Also had a CT w/ contrast and PET a few weeks ago; both were clean.

Can't think of any extenuating circumstances that would contribute to early bleeding.

Thanks for the quick response!

David,
When my husband started radiation, I bought him the softest baby toothbrush I could find. Are you using something like this? At 16 months post radiation, he still uses his Donald Duck toothbrush.

Good luck with your radiation. It is a rough road, but things get better.

Anita

If you have good teeth radiation will not cause them to fall out. It does make for problems if, down the road, they do. Point it out to your Radiation MD and get a super soft brush. Gentle brushing has now taken on a new meaning.

Hi David,
I did have some minor bleeding and some white "spots" on my gums on my 7th day of radiation. I will never forget that day as it sent me into a tailspin with the white stuff, I thought for sure it was the cancer coming back. I RAN to my radiation center to find it was the beginnings of mucocitis and that my gums were going to have a rough go with the radiation treatment. Good luck with the rest of treatment and holler to us if you need us.
Minnie

Thanks to all! Your responses have eased my mind already. I will mention it this afternoon during my session, though. My wife, Brenda, got a real kick out of the "Donald Duck" toothbrush, Anita. Now, you've gone and done it! She'll probably be getting "fun" things for me to use, too.

David,

Has anyone mentioned flouride trays to you? If not, you'll want to look into this as it will become part of your "new normal." On of the side effects of the radiation is either decreased syliva production or decreased quality of syliva or both. As my dental oncologist explained it to me, syliva is 90% water and the other 10% consists of numerous compounds -- some of which help protect our teeth. As result of the interrupted syliva function, dental carries are another after effect of radiation. To counter this problem, he perscribed dental trays (similar to teeth protectors worn when playing sports) to be loaded with gelled flouride and worn every night for at least 10 minutes after brushing.

If you haven't already, you definately want to look into this.

-Brett

At 16 months I finally retired my baby toothbrush (my wife got me one with a teddy bear on it) and went back to the Sonicare.

One week does seem a little early for these kinds of problems however. I don't recall ever having gum bleeding even during the worst phase.

I got "longer in the tooth" as a result of some gum loss but they held up pretty well. IMRT is the least of the evils for harshness on the gums. More surprising is that it's in your front teeth - typically the teeth most exposed to the radiation take the brunt such as the molars. I would get to a dentist or dental oncologist and have it checked out.

By your comment that your dental health is good I take it that you are free of gum disease as well?

If you are not flossing carefully you can easily cut the gums as well. I used a Waterpik during the worst part of treatment.

I wouldn't plan on loosing any teeth - I still have ALL of mine - I wouldn't let them pull any out.

You must be willing to go the distance however, dental trays, flouride treatments, frequent cleanings, floss, WaterPiks, etc.

Actually, Colegate now makes an ultra-soft brush in the "standard" appearance. This would be useful if you would prefer a more dignified and mature brushing experience.

This is from a prior post:

My social worker also recommended brushing with devices looking like "sponges on coffee stirrers". For some reason, I thought I read about it here too. Coincidentally, yet another advisor recommended them yesterday and emailed me:

Sponge Swabs:
Toothettes by Sage Products, Inc. 1.800.323.2220 manufactures the toothette.
You can go to their site and click on Clinical Products and Oral care...www.sageproducts.com

Sabrina

I needed those swabs for the middle to latter part of my radiation treatment. Even soft toothbrushes felt too harsh at that point, and I used the swabs followed by some VERY careful flossing.

Cathy

With flouride trays in hand and Biotene mouthwash and toothpaste at the ready I thank you for your comments, advice and experience. I'm prepared for a kinder, gentler, yet dignified approach.

OCF is about ready to take delivery on some VERY VERY soft tooth brushes to use during the worst part of it all, and while I don't have them all in hand right now ready to put up in the OCF store online, I can send you the few samples that I have ( sterile in the bags still). Just email me your adress and I will see that you get them.