Saliva and dry mouth: Head and neck cancer and treatments

Posted by Maureen, Alumna Mentor @alpaca, Dec 5, 2017

Many of us have this problem. Three years after RT and lots of talks by oncologists at our meetings and I'm still learning new details about this side effect. Some people have no saliva for life because their glands have been wrecked by the treatment, some recover some function as late as 2 years after (is that right?). Most people though have to manage a more or less dry mouth with constant to frequent sips of water or gels and sprays.

Even worse is what lack of saliva does to your teeth. I've learnt that normal saliva is continually building up the teeth and that without it we are in danger of rampant dental decay without extra fluoride treatment or heroic effects to keep out mouth acid neutral.

How do other manage this problem? What tips do you have?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Head & Neck Cancer Support Group.

george6530 | @george6530 | Dec 17, 2024

I have the same problem. Excessive saliva makes it hard to eat.

tuckie | @tuckie | Dec 18, 2024

Hi
I have a dry mouth with I think a slightly numb tongue'. If I try and drink water/milk A2 before bed a little better.

Is it the PRADAXA 110 x twice day.

Especially stopping all Bisoprolol I wil now take note.

cheri Joy

Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Dec 28, 2024

In reply to @george6530 "I have the same problem. Excessive saliva makes it hard to eat." + (show)

Hi @george6530, what type of head and neck cancer did you have? What helps you to eat with dealing with excessive saliva?

Jano | @jano | Jan 22 8:23am

In reply to @jano "Hi. I have been using Prescription cevimelene 30 mgs. for dry mouth. It is expensive and..." + (show)

I still use Biotene. Like t(r flavor too. But take a cevimeline at night. Used to
Take 3/ day but now only one. I’m 8 yrs out. I pay $65 usually with Goodrx but it is worth it. Lasts me for 90 days, since original,script was for 3 / day. 😉Wish you the best.

stephenrfleury | @stephenrfleury | Jan 23 8:34am

I have dry mouth, although it does not sound a severe as yours. I take Cevemeline three times a day which helps quite a bit. At night, I use dental trays with fluoride gel and add a dry mouth gel to the tray. I also use a couple sprays of Aquoral, a prescription product, to help with the dryness.