Dry mouth : how did you deal with it?

Stoppers 4 works for me
Right now...tho I use more this week than last week. Water of course tho the relief is short lived. Don't have the mucous yet but have Musinex on hand just in case.

P

Sam999 said:

Thanks Phrannie, do you use
Thanks Phrannie, do you use that right before radiation as well? You use it as often as needed or try to limit it to night time?

Also after using mugard, we are not to drink anything for 1 hour. My mouth is okay but throat is dry about half an hour after taking mugard. Do you use within one hour or mugard?

Thx,

Sam

I do Stoppers 4
Right before radiation.so I can breathe thrum my mouth.....I couldn't take the dry mouth other wise.

phrannie51 said:

I do Stoppers 4
Right before radiation.so I can breathe thrum my mouth.....I couldn't take the dry mouth other wise.

phrannie
What is Stoppers4? A mouthwash? Have you tried the Biotene and like this better or in addition to? Also have they prescribed a liquid pain killer to gargle/swallow to help with eating? They prescribed BDGX, whatever that all is; I know it's a mixture with lidocaine in it, but I haven't used it yet. Trying to wait until the pain gets unbearable to swallow, but thought I might try it.

Mrs. Sarge said:

phrannie
What is Stoppers4? A mouthwash? Have you tried the Biotene and like this better or in addition to? Also have they prescribed a liquid pain killer to gargle/swallow to help with eating? They prescribed BDGX, whatever that all is; I know it's a mixture with lidocaine in it, but I haven't used it yet. Trying to wait until the pain gets unbearable to swallow, but thought I might try it.

Stoppers 4 is a spray like Biotene, but I think it
works better...Moistens up my mouth, and it lasts during rads....I tried doing this with Biotene spray, and it didn't work as well. I got the Stoppers 4 at www.drugstore.com.

p

Dry Mouth
Hi Sam,

I use Stoppers 4, plus sip water all day. The biotene spray didn't do anything for me and I tried their oral balance , I couldn't get that out of my mouth fast enough. One of my rad techs suggested lemon drop candies, as lemon seems to activate some saliva, well at least it did for me..I also put true lemon in my water. I didn't have the mucus problem, but sometimes now that all treatments are over a feel a glob or so in my throat at times and hot tea seems to break it up for me. You may want to ask about the lemon because of the citrus possibly burning your throat as well as a hot liquid like tea. Have you tried a humidifer in the bedroom?

Linda

Marty36 said:

Do you have an prescriptions?
Have you gotten a prescription for dry mouth? I've tried Pilocarpine and Evoxac and both have worked (although Evoxac seems to work better).

For the mucus, I had a suction machine. I also rinsed a lot (Neutrasal, a prescription) and salt/baking soda with water. I found carbonated water (club soda) also helped with that.

A suggestion I got from someone else here is Xylimelts, which are lozenges you attach to your cheek or gum that emits Xylitol, a natural sweetner that causes salivation. I'm also a big advocate of chewing gum with Xylitol in it.

Xylitol
My dentist recommended the gum as well as toothpaste made with it-I don't chew a lot of gum but do keep the xylitol gum all around the house and at my office.

Yo Sam, I had dry mouth for
Yo Sam, I had dry mouth for years, and used Mouth Kote Spray which worked very well. I used a large bottle at home, and bought small spray bottles that I filled with Mouth Kote, and put one in each vehicle, and always had one in my pocket. Being unable to swallow, sipping fluids was not an option.

PATRICK

fishermanljl said:

Dry Mouth
I tried everything, Oasis, Biotene and then a dental hygenist frieds gave me a sample of Xylimelts. THese lozenges stick to your back teeth and dissolve over a couple of hours. I would put two in at bedtime and they would keep things tolerable for a few hours. I still use them, especially when I speak or have a presentation to do. Keeps me from going to the water bottle every few seconds. They are made by OraHealth, I think. OVer the counter or on-line. Good luck.

Xylimelts.....
Ya know, after reading this thread yesterday, I remembered I had gotten some Xylimelts in the very beginning, but had never tried them.........I gave them a go last night, and they are GREAT!! No taste really, used one when I took the dog for a walk, and still had spit by the time I got back....tried one at bed time (30 minutes after the MuGuard)....and never woke up once because of dry mouth.

Marvelous little things......I got them at Drugstore.com, too.

p

fishermanljl said:

xylimelts
Spit is a wonderful thing.

Yeah for spit!!
Xylimelts are the bomb!!......LOL.

p

phrannie51 said:

Yeah for spit!!
Xylimelts are the bomb!!......LOL.

p

spit
Prior to treatment I never thought drool on the pillow would be so welcomed. The first time it happened you would have thought it was Christmas and a new bike was under the tree. Small victories add up