Taking care of your teeth during treatment

JanJan63
JanJan63 Member Posts: 2,478 Member
in Colorectal Cancer #1

I went to the dentist today to have my teeth cleaned and found out I have nine fillings to do. Three are replacing old ones but still I was shocked. I've always had good teeth and take care of them. But, while I was in treatment I was too tired to care enough to brush them regularly and would go days without doing it. I was too weak to stand up long enough. And I had nausea so badly that brushing them would make me gag and often I'd throw up. I wanted them cleaned sooner and usually go every six months but with the gagging being so bad I waited. My friend is my hygienist and she took x-rays today to make sure the bone was okay because she says chemo can affect that, too.

Has anyone else experienced this? If so, do you have any suggestions for coping with it? I got four fillings done today and hopefully will have two more done by the end of the week but there will still be three that will have to wait if I'm as bad or worse than my last time on chemo.

Comments

  • Nana b
    Nana b Member Posts: 3,030 Member
    #2
    I also got two cavities but

    I also got two cavities but could not get them filled while on chemo. I even needed a root canal and had to wait. FYI.   I think it may be because of my low white cell count and bacteria, also bleeding.  Not good. 

  • JanJan63
    JanJan63 Member Posts: 2,478 Member
    #3
    Nana b said:

    I also got two cavities but

    I also got two cavities but could not get them filled while on chemo. I even needed a root canal and had to wait. FYI.   I think it may be because of my low white cell count and bacteria, also bleeding.  Not good. 

    Antibiotics

    I do know that if you're on chemo you have to take antibiotics before and after the cleaning or procedure because of the possibility of disrupting bacteria and getting it in your system. My career was in the dental field before I had my own dog daycare and grooming business. I'm still surprised at how many fillings I needed. I haven't had a filling in years and years.

  • janderson1964
    janderson1964 Member Posts: 2,215 Member
    #4
    I believe it is due to risk

    I believe it is due to risk of infection. 3 years ago after my second recurrence I had a couple of cavities and saw my dentist. I told him I was going to start chemo in a few weeks and he told me he had to do the fillings before I started chemo. It's a tuff dilema. You should consult with you dentist and oncologist to see what the options are. Maybe a short chemo break would be ok if it gets unbearable.

  • Helen321
    Helen321 Member Posts: 1,460 Member
    #5
    I lost two teeth even though

    I lost two teeth even though I brushed extra.  They were already capped so they just gave.  I also had 2 cavities.  Just seems to come with the territory.  My doctor said no to dental work during treatment even with antibiotics.  I waited until right after treatment and then used antibiotics before and after.

  • traci43
    traci43 Member Posts: 773 Member
    #6
    f;ouride treatments

    My dentist gave me a prescription for flouride and trays and I used it 2-3 times a week, the first two times I had chemo (12 rounds each) in 2007 and 2009.  The subsequent rounds (2009 and 2011) I didn't bother and I was fine.  I guess I'm lucky as others have talked about dental problems.  Good luck to you, Traci

  • Akroger
    Akroger Member Posts: 88
    #7
    Gatorade dental issues

    Prior to her diagnosis my mom was fairly good about brushing her teeth, though she went for years without seeing a dentist because it was never really a high priority. So when the cancer pains and then the radiation and chemo began, she completely stopped caring about even brushing her teeth. Then, due to low potassium levels, her oncologist recommended drinking gatorade, and she got so used to it that there have been points at which she would just live on that (when unable to eat solid food). Her gums got pretty sensitive as a result, but she finally managed to find an extra gentle toothpaste that she can handle using now. Every time I ask her about seeing a dentist though, she demurs, and I think she's probably too nervous to go and learn just how bad the condition of her teeth might be at this point. 

    My mom probably needs more than just fillings. When she's reluctant about doing something, it can be nearly impossible to make her listen. This probably wasn't very helpful, because my mom's way of coping is avoiding the doctor. But you're clearly being proactive about it, and taking the advice of your dentist and oncologist for better results going forward, and I think that's exactly the right thing to be doing.

  • Annabelle41415
    Annabelle41415 Member Posts: 6,742 Member
    #8
    Treatment

    I've found out that most doctors don't tell you near the possibility of problems that can exist while going through treatment - they always want to blame it on something else just because the industry makes so much money on those drugs.  I've experienced bad bleeding gums, bleeding noses, my vagina closed to the point where it hurt to make love and it would bleed, eyes got progressively worse, progressive hip pain and now disintegration, neuropathy of hands and feet where even being in the cold isle of the grocery store hurts them, anxiety, permanent immune deficiency, can't sleep because I'm going to the bathroom several times a night, can't go to family functions or events because of uncontrolled bowel movements, etc.  But I'm still here and making the best of it.  I've learned to live with all of this and still have a smile on my face because I'm still cancer free and watching my children and grandchildren grow.  Just wish the industry would take our problems and put those on the statistics and put it down as a side effect.  Make a note of everything and hope you continue to do well.  Ask your dentist for some anti inflammatory mouth wash that they can prescribe.  It helps me a great deal.  I'm happy I went through all of it though and wouldn't change a thing about my previous treatment so just be proactive in your treatment going forward.  Don't mean to scare you but it's what I've been through and wishing you the best.

    Kim

     

  • JanJan63
    JanJan63 Member Posts: 2,478 Member
    #9
    Annabelle41415 said:

    Treatment

    I've found out that most doctors don't tell you near the possibility of problems that can exist while going through treatment - they always want to blame it on something else just because the industry makes so much money on those drugs.  I've experienced bad bleeding gums, bleeding noses, my vagina closed to the point where it hurt to make love and it would bleed, eyes got progressively worse, progressive hip pain and now disintegration, neuropathy of hands and feet where even being in the cold isle of the grocery store hurts them, anxiety, permanent immune deficiency, can't sleep because I'm going to the bathroom several times a night, can't go to family functions or events because of uncontrolled bowel movements, etc.  But I'm still here and making the best of it.  I've learned to live with all of this and still have a smile on my face because I'm still cancer free and watching my children and grandchildren grow.  Just wish the industry would take our problems and put those on the statistics and put it down as a side effect.  Make a note of everything and hope you continue to do well.  Ask your dentist for some anti inflammatory mouth wash that they can prescribe.  It helps me a great deal.  I'm happy I went through all of it though and wouldn't change a thing about my previous treatment so just be proactive in your treatment going forward.  Don't mean to scare you but it's what I've been through and wishing you the best.

    Kim

     

    Thank you both!

    Akroger, I used to work in the dental field so I go regularly to get my teeth cleaned or I might be the same as your mom and just not go. My hygienist is my best friend and I used to work for her and the doctor that did my fillings. Otherwise I'm terrified of the dentist. One thing I did notice when I was getting the fillings is that my anxiety is much les than it used to be. Compared to the things I went through in the hospital it was a walk in the park. A needle to freeze me after using a topical freezing gel? No problem. I had two different tubes shoved through my buttock and into my abdomen with only light freezing and a sedative.

    Kim, thank you. I have some of your side effects from the last chemo. There are some I hadn't mentioned on here such as the love life difficulties and the issues with heat and cold. I'll ask about the mouthwash but last time I used club soda and it worked great. I had bought a bottle of prescription mouthwash and used it twice.  

    I used to keep track of everything in a journal then one day I just stopped. Things went so badly after my surgery that I don't ever want to revisit it again.

    Jan 

  • Yolllmbs
    Yolllmbs Member Posts: 360 Member
    #10
    Annabelle41415 said:

    Treatment

    I've found out that most doctors don't tell you near the possibility of problems that can exist while going through treatment - they always want to blame it on something else just because the industry makes so much money on those drugs.  I've experienced bad bleeding gums, bleeding noses, my vagina closed to the point where it hurt to make love and it would bleed, eyes got progressively worse, progressive hip pain and now disintegration, neuropathy of hands and feet where even being in the cold isle of the grocery store hurts them, anxiety, permanent immune deficiency, can't sleep because I'm going to the bathroom several times a night, can't go to family functions or events because of uncontrolled bowel movements, etc.  But I'm still here and making the best of it.  I've learned to live with all of this and still have a smile on my face because I'm still cancer free and watching my children and grandchildren grow.  Just wish the industry would take our problems and put those on the statistics and put it down as a side effect.  Make a note of everything and hope you continue to do well.  Ask your dentist for some anti inflammatory mouth wash that they can prescribe.  It helps me a great deal.  I'm happy I went through all of it though and wouldn't change a thing about my previous treatment so just be proactive in your treatment going forward.  Don't mean to scare you but it's what I've been through and wishing you the best.

    Kim

     

    Root canal

    i was very pro-active in having my teeth checked and cleaned before chemo started. I had a root canal two months ago and am going back for another one tomorrow. My onc and dentist have worked together and decided it was better to have the root canal. If it isn't one thing it's another. 

     

    Yolanda

  • JanJan63
    JanJan63 Member Posts: 2,478 Member
    #11
    Yolllmbs said:

    Root canal

    i was very pro-active in having my teeth checked and cleaned before chemo started. I had a root canal two months ago and am going back for another one tomorrow. My onc and dentist have worked together and decided it was better to have the root canal. If it isn't one thing it's another. 

     

    Yolanda

    Root canal

    Best of luck with the root canal Yolanda. It's great that these days root canals aren't the scary thing they used to be. They're just a deep filling but take longer than a regular one. And are way more expensive, unfortunately. BUt, yeah, it never seems to end, does it? All the little extra goodies that come with cancer and chemo.

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