Delnative knew

Kent Cass
Kent Cass Member Posts: 1,898 Member
edited March 2014 in Head and Neck Cancer #1
Jim, I made the long-overdue trip to the University of Iowa hospital today to visit a Dental Specialist. He's just down the hall from the Otolaryngology center, and one floor right below the H&N Cancer Center, there.

According to this Dr.- I shoulda been on the flouride trays right from the get-go, and that includes even before the rads start. He said that's been the standard at the U of Iowa "for over 30 years." And that does blow my mind. Over 320,000 people in the greater Quad Cities, with 6 full-size hospitals and numerous specialty places that do outpatient Ops., and none of my C handlers, or Dentist, knew I should be on the trays- even when I expressed my concern about my tooth disintegration!

I turn 56 later this month, Jim, so I blame old age, the chemo, and the Cubs- for not adding the 1+1 to get the 2 you have provided for so many, here, about the trays. And like a typical old Cub fan with a Cisplatin/FU5 history, I didn't even think to mention the trays to any of my handlers in the half-dozen visits I've had since the toothloss came into play. I just don't know. Maybe I figured they would tell me if it could help, and not a one of them did. But you did. Yep, you were right as rain, Jim. Even mentioned you, Jim from Deleware, to the Dr. as having talked about the trays for a long time. That was cool.

SO, for all to know, if you didn't have your teeth pulled before treatment, and the rads included your teeth as targets, then the University of Iowa says the Flouride Trays are a must for you, and they've been saying it for decades. But don't take their advice. Take Jim's advice, instead, which just happens to be identical words of medical wisdom.

Believe

kcass

Comments

  • delnative
    delnative Member Posts: 450 Member
    #2
    Wow ...
    Thanks for the credit, Kent, but I'm just a guy who got some good advice and have tried to pass it on. I owe what little expertise I have to the people at Johns Hopkins, an awesome institution.
    It is a shame that so many patients out there never get this crucial information from their docs. Why that happens, I don't know. All I know is that my dental hygienist has told me of the people she sees who had rads and then wonder why their teeth are falling apart two years later.
    Kent, I just hope your teeth aren't too far gone. And BTW, 56 isn't so bad, though I've found that at that age your memory is the first thing to go. I forget what the second thing is.

    --Jim in Delaware
  • sweetblood22
    sweetblood22 Member Posts: 3,228
    #3
    delnative said:

    Wow ...
    Thanks for the credit, Kent, but I'm just a guy who got some good advice and have tried to pass it on. I owe what little expertise I have to the people at Johns Hopkins, an awesome institution.
    It is a shame that so many patients out there never get this crucial information from their docs. Why that happens, I don't know. All I know is that my dental hygienist has told me of the people she sees who had rads and then wonder why their teeth are falling apart two years later.
    Kent, I just hope your teeth aren't too far gone. And BTW, 56 isn't so bad, though I've found that at that age your memory is the first thing to go. I forget what the second thing is.

    --Jim in Delaware

    Keep us posted, Kent. I've
    Keep us posted, Kent. I've been using the trays and brushing 5 times a day and my teeth are stil disenigrating. :(
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #4
    sweetblood22 said:

    Keep us posted, Kent. I've
    Keep us posted, Kent. I've been using the trays and brushing 5 times a day and my teeth are stil disenigrating. :(

    Five Times a Day
    Dawn, you only eat once a day...you are so tiny....you must get more calories on toothpaste and flouride than food ;)

    love ya,
    John
  • sweetblood22
    sweetblood22 Member Posts: 3,228
    #5
    Skiffin16 said:

    Five Times a Day
    Dawn, you only eat once a day...you are so tiny....you must get more calories on toothpaste and flouride than food ;)

    love ya,
    John

    Now don't be telling people
    Now don't be telling people here that! Lol. You follow my facebook postings and see what I eat and you know it's not once a day! Lol. I can't believe I eat like 2400 cals and I cannot crack 100lbs. I do my teeth when I wake up, after brunch, after the afternoon snack, after dinner, then trays and then I brush again after the midnight snack of ice cream. Perscription toothpaste one brushing as a boost, and in the trays. Rest with sponge bob tooth paste. Biotene rinse...... I'm gonna croak from flouride poisoning. I know it. Lol
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #6
    Fluoride Tray

    Wish my Rad and ENT doc knew about Fluoride treatment, Jaw problems, and a hold lot of other stuff that are side affect of treatment. At the point where I am I am not too sure they know a hold lot about radiation.

    My advice to anyone starting any type of cancer treatment (beware of small town clinic) get to a major center for your treatment and save your self a lot of pain later.
  • Fire34
    Fire34 Member Posts: 365
    #7
    Hondo said:

    Fluoride Tray

    Wish my Rad and ENT doc knew about Fluoride treatment, Jaw problems, and a hold lot of other stuff that are side affect of treatment. At the point where I am I am not too sure they know a hold lot about radiation.

    My advice to anyone starting any type of cancer treatment (beware of small town clinic) get to a major center for your treatment and save your self a lot of pain later.

    Paste
    My Dentist reccomended MI paste it is fluoride of course and it is easier I suspect than the trays.
    She advised a little pea size of paste rubbed over the teeth and gums should do the trick for the night. It must be helping as my check ups have been pretty good. It comes in different flavors but the mint isn't too bad, what you can taste of it. LOL
    I got mine at amazon.com ends up being about $11.00 a tube.
    Dave
  • Kent Cass
    Kent Cass Member Posts: 1,898 Member
    #8
    Fire34 said:

    Paste
    My Dentist reccomended MI paste it is fluoride of course and it is easier I suspect than the trays.
    She advised a little pea size of paste rubbed over the teeth and gums should do the trick for the night. It must be helping as my check ups have been pretty good. It comes in different flavors but the mint isn't too bad, what you can taste of it. LOL
    I got mine at amazon.com ends up being about $11.00 a tube.
    Dave

    Dave
    Thanks for this MI info. Will try to remember to ask my Dr. or Dentist about it. Got fitted for the tray this AM.

    kcass
  • thegirlfriend
    thegirlfriend Member Posts: 142
    #9
    wow, thats where I lived, in
    wow, thats where I lived, in the QC. Im glad you went to U of Iowa. and yes my boyfriend started the trays right when the radiation started. thats when he got them. had to make them for him.
    they told him he has to do the flouride trays for the rest of his life. he had to have 2 teeth pulled still but cant have any dental work done again unless its an emergency or a detriment to his health.

    so yes its true, and correct and yes i find it disgraceful that no one in the QC was in the know about this. Its not a tiny place to live at all.

    good luck.....

    thegirlfriend

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