My dentist gave me a bottle of "Butler Protect Neutral Flouride Foam" to use with my dental trays and it only takes 1-4 minutes for a treatment, tastes like mint, is pH neutral, so doesn't burn. It is 0.9% Neutral flouride and can only be obtained from a dentist (professional use only) -you won't find it in the drugstore . Easy to use - pump the foam into the dental tray and insert.

My dentist paints my teeth every two weeks( with floride). When I asked about the tray he told me they don't do that any more. Over time it will be less and less.

I'm not sure why your dentist would tell you that trays and Rx strength fluoride are not used any more. It is still the normal protocol at the 4 largest cancer centers in the US. 5 years out I still have my trays, and while I am not a diligent as I was in the beginning, I still use them 3-4 times a week.

My husband is being fitted for these next week. I was interested in when and how long you wear them. I assumed you wore them while you slept. Is that the case? It sounds like you only wear them a few min. a day. Are there different types of treatment?
Thanks,
Cheryl

They are clear soft plastic and you only leave them on for 1-4 minutes (at least those are the instructions for Butler "Protect"). Protect is prescription only, so I get mine from my dentist.
It is a foam type of product in a container with a pump. I just place a little of the foam in the tray and slip it on the teeth. You should store the trays on the mold to prevent them from distorting. I have heard that there are OTC (over the counter)flouride treatment products also -I have no personal experience with them. Protect is about as brainless and painless as it gets and doesn't leave a bad aftertaste.

I use the over the counter stannous flouride and leave it in the trays for approx. 15 minutes every night. The trays were made by the dentist at M.D Anderson and I follow their protocol.

Danny G.

Just and addendum for anyone new to the forum:

Many health insurance carriers will cover the cost of dental trays if their use is for cancer-related treatment such as radiation.

Kim

Thanks for the info about insurance companies carrying the costs of the trays. I found out tommorrow about my biopsy (95% sure it is cancer) and if I have to have radiation, that is one of the first things I want to do for myself (besides getting a PEG tube). THanks for the info! I was wondering but wasn't going to ask.
Desiree'

Desiree,
I am one of the big proponents of PEG tubes. I still have mine 8 months after treatment, although most people get rid of them a lot sooner. But I would not rush to get one. I waited until 2 or 3 weeks after treatment began when swallowing began to become a problem. Putting it in is an easy and quick procedure.
I am still hoping that your results are negative.

Danny G.

Just one more fluoride story for what it's worth. My fluoride is prescription and the instructions are to place one drop in each tooth space and wear though the night (the specially molded trays). I did this faithfully throughout treatment and afterward when my mouth was completely dry, but less often now as a good deal of saliva has returned, for which I am extremely grateful and yes, I know how lucky I am.
Joanna
P.S. Lord willin' and the creek don't rise, I won't have to go through this again, but if I do, I will line up to get the PEG, which I am convinced beyond a doubt is the one thing that allowed me to heal so quickly and get back to real life.