Teeth problems

Hi michdjp,

I have not been down the teeth trouble road, but lots of members have and just like you described.  I have heard of 20, 30 or many more dives in the hyperbaric oxygen chamber prior to teeth work.  I suppose  that is one of the reasons they get after us to address all teeth issues prior to treatments.

I have been fortunate.  My dentist and radiation onc spoke before my first zap (I guess everything was ok because I got the green light for 35 sessions.

I am glad he is doing well.  Hopefully, this issue will be capped off to carry him through many Thanksgiving yet to come.

Matt

m,

I could not agree with you more. I think all of us who go through this treatment (including caregivers and no one else, unless supported by good evidence) should be given a lifetime tax break, a coupon good anytime for a DQ Blizzard and maybe a Tesla to drive.  AND yes, our teeth should be good to go.

Maybe, instead of the continuous debate about PEG or not to PEG we just get a family deal and plumb everyone for a food drip exercise like the world has never seen.

I am talking crazy, it is time to get some lunch, my goodness it is 2:04pm.  Tell you what I will pretend I am having teeth difficulty and will only gum and swallow.

Your friend from Oregon.

Matt

Just out of curiousity, how is your father's condition when it comes to drymouth?  I use a standard toothpaste and follow with a floride gel.  I was told my drop in saliva would increase tooth problems, and that floride gel would now be standard.  Nightly tooth care is now a wash with waterpick to get rid of pieces, then a brush with a standard floride toothpaste, then a coat of prescription floride gel.  I now also do a bunch of xylimelts every day.

Hello, I too have had the 35 radiation treatments and my dentist won't touch me until I go to the oxygen chamber.  I was fortunate that I find a multi chamber that can hold up to 12 people at a time which was good since I don't like being closed in!  I wish now I had stayed with the oxygen treatment but at the time I didn't think I needed it.  So I only did 17 of the 60 that they wanted.   Now I feel like the bone in my gums are shrinking.  My teeth started out ok and I was able to eat but as the years went on I started losing some and some breaking off and then my swallowing got worse. I finally starting losing so much weight that I had to go on the feeding tube because I couldn't eat enough or couldn't get enough down my throat to keep me going.  Been on a tube for 3years now but I haven't lost any more teeth since 6years ago.  The ones I have left are either rotten or full of cavities but they don't hurt or sensitive I guess because nothing goes in my mouth.  If I can ever get enough money up I am going to get my teeth pulled and have implants put in to hold a set of dentures.  But dental insurance doesn't pay that much and the dentist around here won't work with me.  Anyway I suggest do what you can as soon as you can because each year will bring another set of problems with radiation.  I don't won't to sound like a downer but if someone had told me some of the things I see now back when I had it done I might not be in the shape I am in now.  May GOD Bless you on this journey but He will never leave you always remember that.