I had stage 4 adenoid cystic carcinoma in 2001. I ate oatmeal and drank Boost drinks for 1.5 months. My dry mouth still affects me. My doctors had me using Biotene products to help with that. I had another cancer patient tell me that Sprite helped them. Because of my dry mouth I am having a lot of dental issues. I am having all my teeth pulled on the top in the next month. I will be getting dentures. If I could give anyone advice with head and neck cancer, get your teeth pulled first. I have been battling teeth issues since day one. I also did neutron beam radiation at the U of Washington. Good luck to you. If I can help with anything let me know. Thanks

There are many protein drinks to choose from but you should try to find one that has a limited amount of sugar. As you may know, sugar can promote tooth decay. Some use Boost, however it has 20 grams of sugar, that’s 5 teaspoons of sugar per serving. In the past I have used Whey Protein Isolate powder it has 32 grams of protein and 3 grams of sugar per serving. When I’m in a hurry I have a Glucerna shake, less sugar than most. Pilocarpine is good for dry mouth however be sure to read the side effects. I don’t usually take it at night because it gave me night sweats, but it seemed to help during the day. Just a personal choice. I have dealt with dry mouth from radiation to the head & neck area for 10 plus years now. I’m sure I have tried them all. Biotein for me was okay, just does not give me long term relief. The best product for me is Thera Breath Lozenges. Each lozenger is individually wrapped making it convenient to keep some in my pocket when I don’t want to hug a water bottle. The other product that’s good is XyliMelts. I did not hear about this until about two years ago. You can find it on-line easier than at most stores. As to my teeth, I’ve been lucky so far, lots of dental work but only lost one tooth, so far... I was told to have my teeth cleaned 4 times a year, I do it every 4 months. Best wishes, I hope this can help.