Mouth Piece

GraceLibby
GraceLibby Member Posts: 88
edited March 2014 in Head and Neck Cancer #1
Just a quick question, is there anyone else who got a mouth piece to wear during treatments, along with the mask? Just wanted to see if this was standard operating procedure.

Thanks - Grace

Comments

  • rmkbrad
    rmkbrad Member Posts: 176
    #2
    Mouth piece
    Yes, I wore a mouth peice during treatment. Because I have some metal fillings.

    Brad
  • JUDYV5
    JUDYV5 Member Posts: 392
    #3
    Cover teeth
    I was told that the radiation would bounce off the fillings if the teeth were not covered.
    They made me a new mouth guard during radiation, because they did not feel like my first one was covering my teeth correctly.
  • Ed_PortOrange
    Ed_PortOrange Member Posts: 110
    #4
    No - I wonder why?
    I have several amalgam fillings in both lower and upper rear teeth. The cancer dentist I saw felt my teeth were strong enough so no extractions were required. She took impressions for floride trays immediately but never once mentioned the need for a guard. I was diagnosed T4N2SCC of the Vallecula with 3 enlarged left side lymph nodes. 8 months post and no problems with teeth, so far, but they do worry me.

    Sounds like an added precaution that certainly won't hurt.

    Best wishes,
    Ed
  • ekdennie
    ekdennie Member Posts: 238 Member
    #5
    mouth piece
    I started my radiation without one, but my doctor is working on a new plan using one. she is using it to help protect my tongue from the radiation and to help keep it down. part of it is currently in the radiation zone. I think it depends on a case by case basis. good luck with radiation... I just finished day 25 of 30!
    Hugs!
    elizabeth
  • Kent Cass
    Kent Cass Member Posts: 1,898 Member
    #6
    ekdennie said:

    mouth piece
    I started my radiation without one, but my doctor is working on a new plan using one. she is using it to help protect my tongue from the radiation and to help keep it down. part of it is currently in the radiation zone. I think it depends on a case by case basis. good luck with radiation... I just finished day 25 of 30!
    Hugs!
    elizabeth

    No
    Was not given a mouthpiece. Maybe I should have had one, though, back in early-09 when I went thru my rads. Didn't even know such as that is used, though it does make sense.

    kcass
  • delnative
    delnative Member Posts: 450 Member
    #7
    Kent Cass said:

    No
    Was not given a mouthpiece. Maybe I should have had one, though, back in early-09 when I went thru my rads. Didn't even know such as that is used, though it does make sense.

    kcass

    Not me
    I had (and have, and will always use) fluoride trays, but neither my radiation oncologist nor my dental specialist suggested a mouthpiece.
    Perhaps it depends on where exactly you're being nuked, and/or how many amalgam fillings you have. I think I only had one left when I was in treatment, and it's since been replaced.
    But even if it doesn't help, it sure couldn't hurt.

    --Jim in Delaware
  • sweetblood22
    sweetblood22 Member Posts: 3,228
    #8
    delnative said:

    Not me
    I had (and have, and will always use) fluoride trays, but neither my radiation oncologist nor my dental specialist suggested a mouthpiece.
    Perhaps it depends on where exactly you're being nuked, and/or how many amalgam fillings you have. I think I only had one left when I was in treatment, and it's since been replaced.
    But even if it doesn't help, it sure couldn't hurt.

    --Jim in Delaware

    Nope. No mouth piece.
    If it would have helped protect my tongue, that would have been nice, since my tongue still feels like it's been boiled in oil. :(
    I have metal fillings, too.
  • timreichhart
    timreichhart Member Posts: 194
    #9
    sweetblood22 said:

    Nope. No mouth piece.
    If it would have helped protect my tongue, that would have been nice, since my tongue still feels like it's been boiled in oil. :(
    I have metal fillings, too.

    my mask had mouth piece in it.
    when I was fitted for my mask I as also fitted for my mouth piece so my mask had mouth piece in it.
  • adventurebob
    adventurebob Member Posts: 691
    #10
    Got one
    Hi Grace,
    I don't start rads until tomorrow but they custom made a mouthpiece for me that I've worn during the simulations. I'm certain that I'm to wear it the whole time. It's definitely the most uncomfortable part of the whole situation and I sure would like to not have to wear it but assume there's a good reason for it.

    Bob
  • hislove40
    hislove40 Member Posts: 51
    #11
    Mouth piece or other covering for fillings
    I know I'm waking up a very old thread - but my tongue and throat are fried after only 11 rad treatments. Last night I talked to the Rad Onc about it and she said yes the rad could deflect off of fillings. Mine are from my 20's and I'm about to turn 52 so not exactly bright and shiny anymore and I blew it off. But on the way home, I thought about it more and think I need to cover those fillings. I put a call in to the cancer center but haven't heard back. I think I'm going to buy some gum tonight and cover them that way for at least this one night. The mouthpiece along with the mask sounds SO hard! I already hate the mask but to add a mouthpiece sounds like pure torture. I don't mean to sound like a big baby, but it does :) Does anyone else do anything but the mouthpiece?
  • flaladee
    flaladee Member Posts: 15
    #12
    I did.......
    Mine had a piece on it that went up into the mask, it keeps you from turning/moving your head.....
  • RogerRN43
    RogerRN43 Member Posts: 185
    #13
    hislove40 said:

    Mouth piece or other covering for fillings
    I know I'm waking up a very old thread - but my tongue and throat are fried after only 11 rad treatments. Last night I talked to the Rad Onc about it and she said yes the rad could deflect off of fillings. Mine are from my 20's and I'm about to turn 52 so not exactly bright and shiny anymore and I blew it off. But on the way home, I thought about it more and think I need to cover those fillings. I put a call in to the cancer center but haven't heard back. I think I'm going to buy some gum tonight and cover them that way for at least this one night. The mouthpiece along with the mask sounds SO hard! I already hate the mask but to add a mouthpiece sounds like pure torture. I don't mean to sound like a big baby, but it does :) Does anyone else do anything but the mouthpiece?

    Standard
    Covering metallic fillings should be standard for radiation.

    The radiation beam has been specifically prescribed to span uniformly over certain areas. While it might not impact the effectiveness of the overall treatment if the teeth guards are not worn a few sessions, going throughout the whole treatment without them may mean the deflections caused some areas to consistently not get the proper radiation dose, while others got too much.
    After 11 treatments, the way your throat and tongue have changed is probably par for the course. However, deflections may have caused lesions more severe than expected.

    The soft flexible teeth guards may be uncomfortable if you already have radiation burns inside your mouth, or you might tolerate them with any discomfort.
    You may need upper and lower depending on where your fillings are located.
    They do not protect teeth, they are only to prevent deflections.

    They are custom made using molds.
    Once made, you can also use them as fluoride trays which will become part of your daily regimen for lifelong oral care.

    Best wishes
  • jtl
    jtl Member Posts: 456
    #14
    RogerRN43 said:

    Standard
    Covering metallic fillings should be standard for radiation.

    The radiation beam has been specifically prescribed to span uniformly over certain areas. While it might not impact the effectiveness of the overall treatment if the teeth guards are not worn a few sessions, going throughout the whole treatment without them may mean the deflections caused some areas to consistently not get the proper radiation dose, while others got too much.
    After 11 treatments, the way your throat and tongue have changed is probably par for the course. However, deflections may have caused lesions more severe than expected.

    The soft flexible teeth guards may be uncomfortable if you already have radiation burns inside your mouth, or you might tolerate them with any discomfort.
    You may need upper and lower depending on where your fillings are located.
    They do not protect teeth, they are only to prevent deflections.

    They are custom made using molds.
    Once made, you can also use them as fluoride trays which will become part of your daily regimen for lifelong oral care.

    Best wishes

    I really think if they were
    I really think if they were so necessary the rad oncs would require them like they do the mask. Some dentists like the fluoride trays but the they don't always prevent cavities at the gumline which is where brushing with a fluoride toothpaste may help. Also it depends on how well you are doing with saliva production when determining how agressive you need to be with fluoride which has it's own drawbacks.
  • RogerRN43
    RogerRN43 Member Posts: 185
    #15
    jtl said:

    I really think if they were
    I really think if they were so necessary the rad oncs would require them like they do the mask. Some dentists like the fluoride trays but the they don't always prevent cavities at the gumline which is where brushing with a fluoride toothpaste may help. Also it depends on how well you are doing with saliva production when determining how agressive you need to be with fluoride which has it's own drawbacks.

    Preventing backscatter...
    Teeth guards might not be required at all institutions but there are studies out there to support that using them reduces mucositis, mouth sores, and stomatitis caused by backscatter radiation. If I knew there was statistical evidence to help me prevent further problems, personally I would want them. I had no idea before I started, where I had treatment, they automatically asked if I had metallic fillings and told me I had to wear the guards at every rad.

    I agree we are prone to cavities at the "neck" of the tooth. In addition to fluoride trays, I floss and gently brush at the gumline. And I also use biotene mouthwash if I get up through the night. I have read even a 25% reduction in saliva is high risk for dental caries. I imagine with only my parotid working, I probably have around a 75% reduction. Nothing I can do about developing ORN though if I have enough microvascular changes in my jaw bone, hope not.
  • jtl
    jtl Member Posts: 456
    #16
    RogerRN43 said:

    Preventing backscatter...
    Teeth guards might not be required at all institutions but there are studies out there to support that using them reduces mucositis, mouth sores, and stomatitis caused by backscatter radiation. If I knew there was statistical evidence to help me prevent further problems, personally I would want them. I had no idea before I started, where I had treatment, they automatically asked if I had metallic fillings and told me I had to wear the guards at every rad.

    I agree we are prone to cavities at the "neck" of the tooth. In addition to fluoride trays, I floss and gently brush at the gumline. And I also use biotene mouthwash if I get up through the night. I have read even a 25% reduction in saliva is high risk for dental caries. I imagine with only my parotid working, I probably have around a 75% reduction. Nothing I can do about developing ORN though if I have enough microvascular changes in my jaw bone, hope not.

    Maybe the newer machines are
    Maybe the newer machines are more target specific. Who knows, but I know I had saliva gland sparing and I seem to have enough in the morning to spit. I have been brushing with prescription fluoride tooth paste before bed and I am thinking about ditching it because I must be swallowing it during the night. Not good. I do agree we need to be diligent about taking care of our teeth.
    Glad to see you posting again.
    John
  • tommyodavey
    tommyodavey Member Posts: 728 Member
    #17
    jtl said:

    Maybe the newer machines are
    Maybe the newer machines are more target specific. Who knows, but I know I had saliva gland sparing and I seem to have enough in the morning to spit. I have been brushing with prescription fluoride tooth paste before bed and I am thinking about ditching it because I must be swallowing it during the night. Not good. I do agree we need to be diligent about taking care of our teeth.
    Glad to see you posting again.
    John

    Swallowing Fluoride
    John,

    You say you are brushing with the tooth paste and may be swallowing it. Do you not spit it out after brushing?

    My Dr. sent me to an Oral Surgeon who made me trays to fill with the fluoride paste. He said to keep them in for five minutes and then spit it out.(don't rinse) I spit several times to make sure the bulk of it doesn't stay in my mouth. Like you, I don't want to swallow any.

    Maybe some questions to your doctors would be a good idea. I'm not sure how bad swallowing it is but I sure don't want to.

    Tommy
  • jtl
    jtl Member Posts: 456
    #18
    tommyodavey said:

    Swallowing Fluoride
    John,

    You say you are brushing with the tooth paste and may be swallowing it. Do you not spit it out after brushing?

    My Dr. sent me to an Oral Surgeon who made me trays to fill with the fluoride paste. He said to keep them in for five minutes and then spit it out.(don't rinse) I spit several times to make sure the bulk of it doesn't stay in my mouth. Like you, I don't want to swallow any.

    Maybe some questions to your doctors would be a good idea. I'm not sure how bad swallowing it is but I sure don't want to.

    Tommy

    Of course I spit it out but
    Of course I spit it out but if you don't rinse I think there is still plenty of residue that stays in the mouth that eventually gets swallowed given the high concentration. The trays are ok but it was recommended to brush to work it in and around the gum line. Maybe a combination of both is the answer. Fluoride is nasty stuff and should not be ingested.
    John
  • tommyodavey
    tommyodavey Member Posts: 728 Member
    #19
    jtl said:

    Of course I spit it out but
    Of course I spit it out but if you don't rinse I think there is still plenty of residue that stays in the mouth that eventually gets swallowed given the high concentration. The trays are ok but it was recommended to brush to work it in and around the gum line. Maybe a combination of both is the answer. Fluoride is nasty stuff and should not be ingested.
    John

    Confused
    Okay, I got it a little wrong. Yes, fluoride is nasty stuff and it's really thick and sticks to the teeth so I know what you mean. No one told me about swallowing it but I'll ask next time I go in.

    Radiation tends to make cavities at the base of the teeth so I understand why you brush it in. Now you have me thinking about this and wondering if I'm going about it the right way.

    Thanks for the info John,

    Tommy

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