#82416 10-20-2008 07:33 PM | Joined: Apr 2008 Posts: 117 Likes: 1 Senior Member (100+ posts) | OP  Senior Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Apr 2008 Posts: 117 Likes: 1 | Is there something that can be used instead of fluoride. I'm doing 5 minutes a day with dental trays. I'm going to ask my onco dentist about this, but I'd also like to hear opinions here.
Squamous cell carcinoma base of tongue. Lymph involvement unclear; staging placed at "2 or 3." Biopsy 4/18/2008. Treatment: IMRT every day for 7 weeks. Cisplaten once a week to sensitize cancer to radiation. Treatment ended 7/16/08. PET/CT shows no more cancer.
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,219 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,219 | Curious why you are looking fo a substitute? What's the problem?
Jerry
Jerry
Retired Dentist, 59 years old at diagnosis. SCC of the left lateral border of the tongue (Stage I). Partial glossectomy and 30 nodes removed, 4/6/05. Nodes all clear. No chemo no radiation 18 year survivor.
"Whatever doesn't kill me, makes me stronger"
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 4,918 Likes: 66 OCF Founder Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | OCF Founder Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 4,918 Likes: 66 | There is nothing else that has the caries prevention potential of Fluoride.
Brian, stage 4 oral cancer survivor. OCF Founder and Director. The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant.
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,128 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,128 | My instructions were ten minutes and no food or drink for one-half hour. Rather than mess around, I just wear them for at least a half hour, sometimes much longer if I am reading or watching DVD. What I don't like is the excess gel in my mouth -- I drilled a small (1/16") hole in the cap and now when I squeeze the tube only a small stream comes out in the trays, so there is less excess gel in my mouth. I also use a tongue cleaner, plus rinsing, to get the excess out of my mouth. I happen to have both kinds pictured. The scrapers are also useful to clean out the junk that builds up from nutritional drinks like Nutrena, Ensure, VHC, etc. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tongue_scraper
Age 67 1/2
Ventral Tongue SCC T2N0M0G1 10/05
Anterior Tongue SCC T2N0M0G2 6/08
Base of Tongue SCC T2N0M0G2 12/08
Three partial glossectomy (10/05,11/05,6/08), PEG, 37 XRT 66.6 Gy 1/06
Neck dissection, trach, PEG & forearm free flap (6/08)
Total glossectomy, trach, PEG & thigh free flap (12/08)
On August 21, 2010 at 9:20 am, Pete went off to play with the ratties in the sky.
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 138 Senior Member (100+ posts) | | Senior Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 138 | I asked my dentist about a mouthwash that someone recommended a while back on these posts. It is called Phos-Flur and is by Colgate. It has 4.4mg of Sodium flouride. My dentist said that I could just use that every day instead of the flouride trays. Anyone else using Phos-Flur?
Nine years out. New normal with limitations, but surviving and living life to the fullest.
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 | Pete,
A man after my own heart. That's a nifty idea. I'll have to try it on my next tube as I'm almost finished with the current one. It doesn't seal or clog up between uses? I also keep my trays in for the half an hour no drink time.
David
Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 349 Likes: 2 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | | Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 349 Likes: 2 | I don't do the trays. I am too lazy I think to stick with it. :-)
When pressed, the head dentist at MD Anderson said I could just brush with a prescription strength fluoride toothpaste 2x daily instead.
I have no idea if this is truely as good as the trays, seems like it wouldn't be, but maybe my case is different.
You might ask about it. The best I've found is by Discus Dental, called FLUORIDEX. It is 1.1%.
Tastes OK. (Yikes, don't do the fruit flavor!! YUK)
Anyway, be sure and run the idea by a DDS first. I get my toothpaste from my local DDS. However, in NY it was at almost every DwayneReed, so different places have different rules.
Something else, kinda off-topic, can someone point me to info about Fluoride being linked to increase cancer risk..?
Michael | 53 | SCC | Right Tonsil | Dx'd: 06-10-05 | STAGE IV, T3N2bM0 | 3 Nodes R Side | MRND & Tonsillectomy 06/29/05 Dr Fee/Stanford | 8 wks Rad/Chemo startd August 15th @ MSKCC, NY | Tx Ended: 09-27-05 | Cancer free at 16+ Yrs | After-Effects of Tx: Thyroid function is 0, ok salivary function, tinnitus, some scars, neck/face asymmetry, gastric reflux. 2017 dysphagia, L Carotid stent / 2019, R Carotid occluded not eligible for stent.2022 dental issues, possible ORN, memory/recall challenges.
| | | | | Joined: May 2002 Posts: 2,152 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: May 2002 Posts: 2,152 | I was told 20-30 minutes. I put my floride trays in when I shower which isn't the best time since I shower in the am. But if shower at night, yor're don't have to waste another 20 minutes to do the trays.
Take care,
Eileen
----------------------
Aug 1997 unknown primary, Stage III
mets to 1 lymph node in neck; rt ND, 36 XRT rad
Aug 2001 tiny tumor on larynx, Stage I total laryngectomy; left ND
June 5, 2010 dx early stage breast cancer
June 9, 2011 SCC 1.5 cm hypo pharynx, 70% P-16 positive, no mets, Stage I
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 | Time management at it's best as long as you don't open your mouth. LOL
My dentist told me to not use the trays in the am, but at night right before I go to sleep. Makes sense if you can do it.
David
Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,128 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,128 | David, it does gum up a little and takes a bit of force anyway to squeeze through that small hole, but using it daily keeps it going -- Drill your old cap, in case you don't like the results -- I need a roller for the plastic tube...
Age 67 1/2
Ventral Tongue SCC T2N0M0G1 10/05
Anterior Tongue SCC T2N0M0G2 6/08
Base of Tongue SCC T2N0M0G2 12/08
Three partial glossectomy (10/05,11/05,6/08), PEG, 37 XRT 66.6 Gy 1/06
Neck dissection, trach, PEG & forearm free flap (6/08)
Total glossectomy, trach, PEG & thigh free flap (12/08)
On August 21, 2010 at 9:20 am, Pete went off to play with the ratties in the sky.
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