I need help! I just finished my 3rd week of radiation and I am beginning to get mouth sores and I have a horrible taste in my mouth. The doctor has given me Gelclair but I can not stand the taste of it. Does anyone have any other suggestions or home remedies for me?

My radiation oncologist gave me a prescription for Lidocaine (2%) in a viscous solution. I applied it as needed with a Q-Tip and it worked well for me. Maybe you can ask him about that.

Tim

Joleen, I got a version of that miracle wash from my ENT and from my medical oncologist I got something called "Carafate" that is used more commonly for stomach ulcers that I can either swab on specific cores with a qtip or rinse my entire mouth with--its soemthing that coats and reduces pain temporarily. I am using both of these--and rinsing with baking soda and water about every hour too.

I just finished week two of raidatoin and am having problems with sores already(but I'm having concurrent chemo which can aggravate things--what about you?)

While we're asking about mouth sores, though, mybe I can ask a question too which is right on my mind just now. Since I have suddenly gotten sores all over my mouth, inner lip and gums, it REALLY HURTS to do my flouride trays at night. Can I skip these at all until the sores go away? If not, how have others of you handled this? Just grit and bear it?

I had to skip my trays for a while. Are you using a pH neutral flouride? There's always pink magic. Which has various combinations of meds but is usually morphine, lidocaine and some other thing. It is a "swish & spit" and generally should not be swallowed. It should give you about 1/2 hour of relief. The other pain meds should hold down the fort the rest of the time. Using the pain scale of 0-10 (10 being the worst) you should be reporting your pain thresholds every week so they can keep adjusting your pain meds. You will need 3 types of meds - long term opioids, short term, fast acting opioids (for breakthrough pain) and a topical.

Some people have been able to rinse with a solution of saline (1% salt) and baking soda. Personally I couldn't do it - the salt burned too much. Make sure that you floss nightly. Use the braided floss and a babys toothbrush - it's much easier on the gums. Oral hygiene is critical thoughout this. I also used a water pick. There's not much you can do about the taste. Both radiation and chemo affect the taste buds. They will eventually recover.

I asked the rad. onc. today and he said skip the trays for a while. But I'll be sure to keep flossing. Can't be too luch to floss out, though since I'm mostly eating through the tube and everything else is totally pureed.

I have no idea whether the gel for the trays is Ph neutral....I'll have to check. I got a rpescriptionn for Gelclair today too that I will be able to get filled tommorrow. Thank God for good prescrip. coverage on my insurance. I hope the Gelclair taste doesn't keep me from being able to use it.Am haivng more nausea lately too.

Try Oral B Minute Foam for your trays...it is PH neutral, just as much flouride content and is easier to use.

Good Luck!

Weldon

Do I need to go back to my dentist to get that? I guess I probably do--probably needs a prescription

Nelie,

Yes, your dentist can get you a script. I'm told the product was developed for kids, but it really did the trick for me. I had mouth sores so bad at times during treatment that trays for my teeth were the least of my problems and impossible to do regardless of the PH. Anyway, I like it a lot better than any of the Gels.

Weldon

You can also use a Butler Nuetral Flouride Topical Foam. You will have to have your dentist get it for you. It is prescription strength and not available over the counter. The stuff I use is 0.9%. They make even stronger. I may try the Oral B stuff when my can runs out.