Is it safe to drink sodas?

Purplemountain
Purplemountain Member Posts: 119
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

With post treatment for NPC, would it be safe to drink sodas and eating fast food like McDonald?

PM

Comments

  • CivilMatt
    CivilMatt Member Posts: 4,724 Member
    #2
    soda

    PM,

    As far as I am concerned (most) anything you want in moderation is alright.  Your throat, mouth, tongue and nose will let you know.  Soda is a real trip for me now, I like a little. 

    I am still drinking lots of water, I figure it cannot hurt.

    Matt

  • phrannie51
    phrannie51 Member Posts: 4,716
    #3
    Your mouth, throat, taste buds and

    swallower will probably answer this better than we can Laughing...I used to drink 2 A & W Diet Rootbeers per day, can't stand the taste now....used to have a real thing for cheeseburger deluxes.....don't have enough spit for them now, plus they just don't have that much taste. 

    You're still close to the end of treatments....I would say anything you like and can do.....do it.  You can worry about the healthiness of fast food and soda down the road a bit.

    p

  • fisrpotpe
    fisrpotpe Member Posts: 1,349 Member
    #4
    it's about

    it's all about what you can eat and keeping your teeth  clean

     

    eat what you can, drink what you can but most importantly keep your teeth clean with brushing and flossing. if you think your mouth is clean... well clean it some more. we just can not keep our teeth and mouth clean enough. 

     

    good luck!

    john 

  • MarineE5
    MarineE5 Member Posts: 1,034 Member
    #5
    If you can handle the fizzle

    PM,

    Following up on what John stated, it is very important to keep our mouth and teeth clean. I had asked my Cancer Dentist this very same question after my treatments of Radiation ended. I have no saliva what so ever. He told me that he would rather see me drink Diet Soda verses the regular soda only because many people don't brush right away and others may sip on a soda over a long period of time during the day. His main concern was that the sugar would then be sitting on our teeth longer and cavities could happen.

    He explained it to me this way. Those that have saliva have a protection against cavities better than those that have no saliva. A person that does not brush their teeth that has saliva, it may take 6 months to get a cavity where as a person with no saliva can get a cavity in 6 weeks if they don't brush regularly.

    That is why the daily Flouride treatments are so important. I have been doing my own unofficial study here at home on myself. Flouride trays with Flouride verses the Flouride Gel which is applied with the tooth brush. I am now currently 9 yrs out of Radiation, no saliva. I have honestly done the Flouride Treatments daily except for a few rare occassions that I missed a day here or there.

    The first 5 yrs, I had the expensive Flouride Trays that eventually seemed to dry rot and became stiff. I had no cavities using this method of brushing my teeth, then putting one drop of flouride in the tray for each tooth. Kept the trays in for 10 minutes, did not rinse my mouth for 30 or more minutes and then rinsed my mouth. After the 5 yr mark, I switched to another Dentist, he switched me to the Gel which I apply with my toothbrush, again not rinsing for 30 or more minutes on my part. Rinse and go about my day. This I have been doing for 4 yrs now.

    I eat what I want as far as sugar or no sugar. I just make it a point to brush as soon after I eat as possible. If I know ahead of time that we are going to a friend's or family after a meal out, I bring my brush and Flouride Gel/tootpaste along. Yes, I use the Gel as my toothpaste as well. I had used the Biotene toothpaste during the day and used the Flouride Gel once a day. We only need a small amount on the toothbrush (about the size of a pea) anyway. I still haven't had any cavities. So, I was going to post to the board my findings when I reached the 10 yr mark so it was an equal amount of time for both types of Flouride applications.

    Another thing if you can't brush after a meal right away, the Dentist suggested that we chew some sugar free gum to help clean our teeth until we can brush. So far it has worked for me.

    I apologize for the long post, got rambling there, but wanted to give all the information that I had so far Smile

    My Best to You and Everyone Here

  • KB56
    KB56 Member Posts: 318 Member
    #6
    Sodas

    PM, my dentist advised against sodas, even sugar free, due to the high acidic content of sodas.   Since your saliva is probably compomised from the radiation, sodas are just something else that can cause dental issues down the road.   

    My dentist kind of freaked me out as to potential dental issues post radiation, he told my wife that was his intention, so I've chosen to avoid those if possible.     Again, a personal choice but so far so good for me on any dental issues and I don't want to chance it.   

    Keith

Discussion Boards