Lyn, I wouldn't worry about tooth loss. Before my radiation started, the oncologist suggested I have all my teeth pulled to head off any problems. I guess she saw the shock on my face and said to discuss it with my dentist. The dentist cleaned my teeth and replaced a couple of crowns. He fitted me with dental trays. From there on, I brushed, flossed, did daily fluoride treatments. Now a year later, I've had no dental problems. In fact, I have a dental cleaning this morning. I go every 4 months for cleanings, because of the reduced saliva.

Lyn,

Calm down...yeah I know, easier said than done, but we all have been there and believe me you just need time to adjust to a new you and once you do you will realize that it's not the perfect it was before but it really isn't that far off of perfect.

I look back and I had the same fears...loss of taste, dry mouth, teeth falling out years after Tx and the worst fear of all...reoccurance.

Certantly all normal but you will find that you don't loose all your taste, I am appx 90% back and still improving 16 months post TX.

You don't loose all your saliva, I am appx 90% back and still improving.

I also started flouride Tx before my IMRT and still do it daily and have been told by my dentist to do it forever and my teeth look as good OR BETTER now than they did before IMRT.

I also don't think about reoccurance any more. I think about all the crap I did before Tx like BILLS and EMPLOYEES and CLIENTS, ugh.

I am doing 100% of what I did pre cancer and some things I am doing even better, like riding my bike 120 miles every week and I'm a stronger rider even with my dry mouth.

Just focus on getting thru your Tx and then on your recovery and I'm sure you will adjust to the little remaining side effects just find.