Hi, Does anyone know how long before the taste buds return on a regular basis? My husband said it was so weird - he is 2 months post radiation treatment, and although he has had a plethora of problems with his mouth - his taste buds were kind of working - until just a few days ago. He said it was just like someone switched off a light - and there is hardly any taste with the food he's been eating nowadays - even his all-time favorite (Mrs. Weiss's Noodle Soup) which he loves - has no taste lately! Is this normal? And if this is to be expected - on average, when do those "buds" return? There is also significant dry mouth as well. How can taste buds just "turn themselves off" like that? Thanks for any info. you can shed on this.

Hi Donna, it is difficult to speculate how long your husband's taste buds will return to normal. I think no two persons feel the same.In my case, a year post treatment now I still miss the 'sweet' taste. For others like salty, sour and bitter, they are not exactly the same as I remember but are close. Among all side effects, loss of taste buds, to me, is the easist I can endure and ignore. I learn how to taste with my smell!Ha, ha!

Karen.

Hi DonnaJean,

I am a year out from radiation and some of my tastes are just starting to come back. I lost chocolate (which all women tend to sympathize with) but other things are still shifting and changing.
Not sure about them just "turning off", but maybe it is one of the continuing side effects that builds up?
I don't think anyone can tell you how much saliva or taste buds will return, but you will hear a lot about patience on this website whenever there is talk about the after effects of radiation.

Take care,
Dinah

Thanks Karen and Dinah. It just seems weird for such a "delayed reaction" in losing the taste buds 2 months post-radiation, but as I am finding out - every day is different, and what is bothersome one day - is no big deal the next day. My husband visited the Dentist today who gave him some good flouride rinses and more of that Biotene oralbalance jel. The Dentist did say that once a person has had radiation to the head/neck area - you can forget about saliva production ever coming back. Is this true, or does that like everything else - vary from person to person? I know it will never be like it used to be - but I would hope in time, that he could get some saliva production back to some degree. The dentist also said he needs to brush and rinse after every meal - and not just after eating anything sugary, since tooth decay can start right away. I have been trying to tell him this, and although he has been pretty good about keeping his mouth clean - there have been some days he just gets lazy and fluffs it off. Perhaps now - he will be more vigilant with oral care now that the Dentist warned him too! Anyways, thanks for your help. Take care.

Hi DonnaJean:
I am 6 months post radiation and still have days where my tatse is not what it was the day before. I still can't do sweets, pastries or chips and such. It was about 4 to 5 months before I started being able to taste more than the day before. As far as saliva goes I still have half of what I use to, but I still continue to take salegen. Hope your husband improves.

Mike D.

Diagnosed 06/2002, w/Laryngeal cancer, 1st stage

Mike, thanks for the info. What is selegen? Is that anything like the Biotene Oral Balance jel that is applied inside the mouth? And in your personal experience - does this seem to help a lot? I will let me husband know, and perhaps he can ask the doc about that. The Ora jel is OK - but it does tend to wash away pretty fast after you drink something or just even after swallowing, so if there's anything better - we'll look into it. Thanks again.