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Teeth problems

Lighthouse_7
Lighthouse_7 CSN Member Posts: 1,566 Member
edited July 2023 in Breast Cancer #1
I was wondering if anyone has had teeth issues so long after treatment. In December it will be 3 years for me.
All of a sudden I am having bad tooth aches and even an abyss after years of no cavities and very healthy teeth.

Am I looking for a reason or is it just old age and my teeth are tired?
Anyone else out there with this similar issue?
Thanks,
Wanda
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Comments

  • MAJW
    MAJW CSN Member Posts: 2,510 Member
    #2
    Not alone....
    I was NED for 19 months until last June....was in a chemo trial two cycles it had no effect...I'm Triple Negative... Then went on Zelda....this past December I had to have one back tooth extracted which was attached to two crowned teeth...it was almost over night the became loose...no choose but to extract and had a bridge made...sadly with my present chemo, the bridge gags me....fun! I have to start easing my way back to wearing it before my teeth shift.....I feel like I have "summer teeth".....some are here some are there....lol. It's really not noticeable but makes me feel a bit self conscious....but at the stage of battle I'm in, I really don't care....

    Hugs, Nancy
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  • sea60
    sea60 CSN Member Posts: 2,613
    #3
    MAJW said:

    Not alone....
    I was NED for 19 months until last June....was in a chemo trial two cycles it had no effect...I'm Triple Negative... Then went on Zelda....this past December I had to have one back tooth extracted which was attached to two crowned teeth...it was almost over night the became loose...no choose but to extract and had a bridge made...sadly with my present chemo, the bridge gags me....fun! I have to start easing my way back to wearing it before my teeth shift.....I feel like I have "summer teeth".....some are here some are there....lol. It's really not noticeable but makes me feel a bit self conscious....but at the stage of battle I'm in, I really don't care....

    Hugs, Nancy

    Here, Here!
    Me too! Dentist said Chemo and drugs affect teeth. I've had a crown over a root canal for years and now its acting up. And it seems like I feel loose teeth...weird! Like Nancy...shrug...I'm taking my calcium and going to the dentist, what more can I do?


    You're not alone,

    Sylvia
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  • carkris
    carkris CSN Member Posts: 4,553 Member
    #4
    sea60 said:

    Here, Here!
    Me too! Dentist said Chemo and drugs affect teeth. I've had a crown over a root canal for years and now its acting up. And it seems like I feel loose teeth...weird! Like Nancy...shrug...I'm taking my calcium and going to the dentist, what more can I do?


    You're not alone,

    Sylvia

    I broke a tooth recently,
    I broke a tooth recently, never had a crown or a root canal. freaked me out. not sure if its chemo related, but I know chemo affects teeth.
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  • Lighthouse_7
    Lighthouse_7 CSN Member Posts: 1,566 Member
    #5
    carkris said:

    I broke a tooth recently,
    I broke a tooth recently, never had a crown or a root canal. freaked me out. not sure if its chemo related, but I know chemo affects teeth.

    Thanks ladies. I guess I'm
    Thanks ladies. I guess I'm not alone. Both teeth were in the back so I decided to pull them instead of root canal and cap, but if any more go I will have to go that route. Not complaining really just curious.
    We sure do have a lot in common good and bad.
    Have a great day ladies and thanks again.
    Hugs,
    Wanda
    P.S. My brother is improving every day.
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  • eihtak
    eihtak CSN Member Posts: 1,473 Member
    #6
    Lighthouse_7 said:

    Thanks ladies. I guess I'm
    Thanks ladies. I guess I'm not alone. Both teeth were in the back so I decided to pull them instead of root canal and cap, but if any more go I will have to go that route. Not complaining really just curious.
    We sure do have a lot in common good and bad.
    Have a great day ladies and thanks again.
    Hugs,
    Wanda
    P.S. My brother is improving every day.

    Dental issues
    Dental issues are very common after chemo, rad, and and many medications. I had dental problems all my life but got much worse since treatment. I now have pretty healthy front teeth but have had most of my molars pulled and am having partials made. I was just at the dentist yesterday who said that now that I am on Fosamax she will not be able to pull any teeth if a serious problem should arrise because of how it affects your bones. The bone does not heal as well as before. She said they can still do fillings, rootcanals, and such but have to leave tooth in place. Thats great if you can fix it, but if not could mean living with a lot of pain. Good dental care is always important but even more so after cancer treatment so please everyone.....if you have not seen your dentist in a while make an appointment soon!
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  • SlowRollin
    SlowRollin CSN Member Posts: 75
    #7
    eihtak said:

    Dental issues
    Dental issues are very common after chemo, rad, and and many medications. I had dental problems all my life but got much worse since treatment. I now have pretty healthy front teeth but have had most of my molars pulled and am having partials made. I was just at the dentist yesterday who said that now that I am on Fosamax she will not be able to pull any teeth if a serious problem should arrise because of how it affects your bones. The bone does not heal as well as before. She said they can still do fillings, rootcanals, and such but have to leave tooth in place. Thats great if you can fix it, but if not could mean living with a lot of pain. Good dental care is always important but even more so after cancer treatment so please everyone.....if you have not seen your dentist in a while make an appointment soon!

    Great update
    Really glad to hear your brother is improving. Dental issues though? My heart goes out to you. Not sounding like you're able to get a break. You do seem to keep a great attitude and I hope you continue to move forward. Please keep us updated.
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  • ShirleyCurls
    ShirleyCurls CSN Member Posts: 51
    #8
    After chemo and rads, I had
    After chemo and rads, I had problems with dry mouth. Not having enough saliva can damage teeth. I use Biotene products. They are kinda $$, but helps. Many regular toothpastes and mouthwashes compound the problem.
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  • peanutcat
    peanutcat CSN Member Posts: 104
    #9
    Lighthouse_7 said:

    Thanks ladies. I guess I'm
    Thanks ladies. I guess I'm not alone. Both teeth were in the back so I decided to pull them instead of root canal and cap, but if any more go I will have to go that route. Not complaining really just curious.
    We sure do have a lot in common good and bad.
    Have a great day ladies and thanks again.
    Hugs,
    Wanda
    P.S. My brother is improving every day.

    Dentist
    Lighthouse-7
    You are not alone. I had chemo and it broke my jaw. The dentist had to wire my nouth. he was able to do it so my mouth wasn't shut tight. I was on liquids for the longest time. He told me not to chew anything. Pain for 9 weeks, I had to take Percoset I'm fine now. all the treatments are over and I am cancer free
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  • debsweb18
    debsweb18 CSN Member Posts: 191 Member
    #10
    eihtak said:

    Dental issues
    Dental issues are very common after chemo, rad, and and many medications. I had dental problems all my life but got much worse since treatment. I now have pretty healthy front teeth but have had most of my molars pulled and am having partials made. I was just at the dentist yesterday who said that now that I am on Fosamax she will not be able to pull any teeth if a serious problem should arrise because of how it affects your bones. The bone does not heal as well as before. She said they can still do fillings, rootcanals, and such but have to leave tooth in place. Thats great if you can fix it, but if not could mean living with a lot of pain. Good dental care is always important but even more so after cancer treatment so please everyone.....if you have not seen your dentist in a while make an appointment soon!

    Now I know!
    I went to a new dentist just as I was diagnosed. I really liked him and had a couple of fillings at that time. 6 months later, after rad and 3 months of arimidex (no chemo) I complained of a slight pain in a tooth when I bit down, almost like it was loose. I wasn't quite sure which tooth it was. The tooth he did the filling in before was cracked and I had to have a crown. It turns out it wasn't the tooth I had the pain in. I was thinking maybe he wasn't a good dentist. But now after reading these posts, maybe it's the meds.

    BTW- I've been on Fosamax for years and I was told by a dental specialist that if I needed a root canal or tooth pulled, it can be done if I went off Fosamax for several months first. He studied it quite a bit. Off the subject, but I've had osteopenia since menopause about 7 years ago. My bone density HAS improved by being on Fosamax even after being on Arimidex for 7 months!
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  • onlyoneeagle
    onlyoneeagle CSN Member Posts: 1 Member
    #11

    is there an organization that has funds for dental work for seniors with teeth affected by chemo and radiation?

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  • Meldzaswan
    Meldzaswan CSN Member Posts: 1 Member
    #12

    I was recently diagnosed with Stage 3 HER 2+ Breast cancer. You may already know what I am about to share, but I thought this maybe helpful. I saw my dentist prior to getting chemo. He said that to help minimize potential tooth loss, to keep hydrated, brush your teeth often and use Biotene to combat dry mouth and protect your teeth. Saliva is the body's way of keeping plaque in our mouths in check and chemo (and other medications) diminishes saliva output. This allows a build up of plaque and plaque is what causes tooth decay. I purchased Biotene lozenges, mouthwash and spray. So far, I've only used the lozenges. Time will tell how well it works, but I go through several during my chemo session and anytime I have dry mouth. If anything, it helps with the symptoms so far.

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  • NickWillson
    NickWillson CSN Member Posts: 1 Member
    #13

    I get where you're coming from. It's frustrating when you suddenly start experiencing toothaches after years of good dental health. I had a similar thing happen to me a while back.

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  • Chelle1229
    Chelle1229 CSN Member Posts: 8 Member
    #14

    I cracked two teeth about a year apart after chemo. Had both pulled and one replaced. Happened to my sister too after chemo.

    Chemo damages your teeth big time. Make sure you tell your dentist, they will pay extra attention to your teeth! Mine has.

    Best of luck.

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  • tanyal
    tanyal CSN Member Posts: 2 Member
    #15
    https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/240298/teeth-problems

    I'm almost 5 years out from my journey. And survivor. I took have had major dental issues. Started a little during treatment then went away. Then roughly a year after started again and I've had nothing but dental issues. I wondered if it's the chemotherapy drugs. Or is it damage to the bones so it seems it would damage the jaw bones and so forth. I have no advice besides if you can go to a dentist. I haven't been able to as my insurance was cancelled last year.

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