#54322 02-09-2004 12:34 PM | Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 11 Member | OP  Member
Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 11 | I found something called "Dry Mouth Relief" on drugstore.com. It's made by Natrol and the active ingredient is anhydrous crystalline maltose (it also has "natural" peppermint flavor, magnesium stearate, and stearic acid). You're supposed to dissolve one tablet in the mouth 3 times daily.
Does anyone have any experience with these or with anhydrous crystalline maltose? Any feeling as to whether this is a good or bad idea?
Thanks,
Laura | | |
#54323 02-09-2004 05:29 PM | Joined: Mar 2003 Posts: 1,384 Likes: 1 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Mar 2003 Posts: 1,384 Likes: 1 | Hi Laura, I have NOT tried the product you mention. The "active" Ingredient translated is; "dry crystal sugar". Maltose is a less sweet tasting type of sugar derived from malt. There are many kinds of sugars (fructose, levulose, maltose, sucrose and others, the latter is cane sugar) the product may help dry mouth but I would be concerned about the effect on teeth. I have seen many suggestions to help dry mouth by sucking on hard candy. I think this is not in the long term interest of our valuable teeth. 
Mark, 21 Year survivor, SCC right tonsil, 3 nodes positive, one with extra-capsular spread. I never asked what stage (would have scared me anyway) Right side tonsillectomy, radical neck dissection right side, maximum radiation to both sides, no chemo, no PEG, age 40 when diagnosed.
| | |
#54324 02-10-2004 11:33 AM | Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 1,140 Likes: 1 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 1,140 Likes: 1 | I am one of the fortunate ones who had IMRT and now has plenty of saliva. However, when waiting for it to come back, I found that sucking on sugarless hard candy helped a lot. I found this in candy stores and in the health food section of grocery stores. | | |
#54325 02-10-2004 01:07 PM | Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 541 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 541 | I have to rely a lot on sugar free candies and chewing gum during my lessons, which really help to make me speak better throughout the lesson without drinking water. Mark's concern about the teeth is true but I have no alternative. It is impossible to drink water all the time when teaching and after a sip, it only helps for a very short while. More frequent dental check and mouth wash. When I am home, I don't eat candies. I don't speak much and if I have a phone call, I have a bottle of water in my hand. I would consider mouth dryness to be the worst side effect of radiation on me. Others may think differently.
Karen stage 4 tonsil cancer diagnosed in 9/01.
Karen stage 4B (T3N3M0)tonsil cancer diagnosed in 9/2001.Concurrent chemo-radiation treatment ( XRT x 48 /Cisplatin x 4) ended in 12/01. Have been in remission ever since.
| | |
#54326 03-06-2004 01:46 PM | Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 24 Member | | Member
Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 24 | I am 14 months past radiation and my mouth is either dry or full of heavy mucous. I have trouble swallowing and handling thin liquids, including water.If you know of any product that can help thin out the mucous, I would appreciate hearing from you. | | | 
#54327 03-06-2004 02:11 PM | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 13 Member | | Member
Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 13 | Hi,
I am no expert, and this is off the top of my head, but what about dried fruit. Assuming 100% fruit no added sugar etc. Got to be better than candy - might be healthy
Oscar | | |
| Forums23 Topics18,250 Posts197,142 Members13,328 | | Most Online1,788
Jan 23rd, 2025 | | |
|
