1. < Head & Neck Cancer

Xylitol, nutrition and dental care

Posted by Maureen, Alumna Mentor @alpaca, Dec 13, 2017

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Maureen, Alumna Mentor | @alpaca | Dec 13, 2017

Hello people. Three and a half years out from my last treatment, I am putting on weight, worried about my teeth and concerned about my unhealthy relationship with ice cream. I know some of you are avid juicers. I try but slip back into the easy-soft-food-on-the-run type eating behaviour. Many of my head and neck cancer friends are trying hard to put weight on and indeed my weight stayed stable for about three years but now I'm gaining. Hard to get a balance.

Sooo, I had an epiphany the other night. I woke up and thought, yes, I can change my diet. I got up at 5 am and ran a hot tap over the remaining ice cream in its large container and decided not to stop all sugar but to cut back my sugar intake. I also need to make a greater effort with my teeth. In order to have a new dental plate made early in 2018, I need to make sure the remaining teeth are healthy to hold it. I've had a steady trickle of decay since radiotherapy.

My hygienist said that the alternative sweetener Xylitol really is good for the teeth (have to keep using fluoride though I think). I came across a stall for a company importing Xylitol products from the US. They are just down the road.

Hey presto - I think I am finally doing something for my diet and teeth in this strange post cancer stage of life where I feel perfectly okay but know I have to take extra steps to remain as well as possible. I'm going to gently ease myself out of eating sugar, limit the carbs, juice more veges and fruit and get my weight well below 80 kg again.

Sharing this with you as a slightly different angle on the soft food theme. Does anyone have any thoughts?

REPLY
4 replies
Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Dec 17, 2017

Alpaca, my dad used to say that alpacas can spit in your eye if you stare at them, and they never miss. Well I have to say that your post sounds like you're spitting sugar square in the eye. Good for you.

Have you seen some of the juicing tips shared by members here:
Juicing - Why would I want to try it? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/juicing-why-would-i-want-to-try-it/

REPLY
Maureen, Alumna Mentor | @alpaca | Dec 17, 2017

Thanks Colleen, I will have a look. Busy time right now, isn't it? I fell in love with alpacas about 10 years ago biut haven't seen one in a while.

REPLY
loli | @loli | Dec 18, 2017
In reply to @alpaca "Hello people. Three and a half years out from my last treatment, I am putting on..." + (show)
@alpaca

Hello people. Three and a half years out from my last treatment, I am putting on weight, worried about my teeth and concerned about my unhealthy relationship with ice cream. I know some of you are avid juicers. I try but slip back into the easy-soft-food-on-the-run type eating behaviour. Many of my head and neck cancer friends are trying hard to put weight on and indeed my weight stayed stable for about three years but now I'm gaining. Hard to get a balance.

Sooo, I had an epiphany the other night. I woke up and thought, yes, I can change my diet. I got up at 5 am and ran a hot tap over the remaining ice cream in its large container and decided not to stop all sugar but to cut back my sugar intake. I also need to make a greater effort with my teeth. In order to have a new dental plate made early in 2018, I need to make sure the remaining teeth are healthy to hold it. I've had a steady trickle of decay since radiotherapy.

My hygienist said that the alternative sweetener Xylitol really is good for the teeth (have to keep using fluoride though I think). I came across a stall for a company importing Xylitol products from the US. They are just down the road.

Hey presto - I think I am finally doing something for my diet and teeth in this strange post cancer stage of life where I feel perfectly okay but know I have to take extra steps to remain as well as possible. I'm going to gently ease myself out of eating sugar, limit the carbs, juice more veges and fruit and get my weight well below 80 kg again.

Sharing this with you as a slightly different angle on the soft food theme. Does anyone have any thoughts?

Jump to this post

Hi Maureen,

The truth is, we could not spit, if our life depended on it! (Coleen) Though her comment made me smile, and that is good.

That being said, I would love to pack a little Christmas present, and send you Xylitol Gum, or any other Xylitol product you need. The gum was gifted to me by a dentist friend; but I do not chew gum. If I could do this for you, I would be so happy.

Have you tried Biotene Gel? I keep it by my bed. Sometimes my mouth is so dry at night, that my tongue is glued to the rest of my mouth. I just have to squeeze a little gel in my mouth for instant confort that lasts all night long.

Maureen, your case and mine have so much in common! I also kept the weight I lost during RT, for three years. Then, my thyroid went bad, and I have gained all the weight back. I will have to give up hot cocoa, and cut on bread. We might want to keep an eye on each other, and try to get under 80 kilos by the beginning of July. I would have to loose 14 kilos.

Have to run, but will be back.
Loli

REPLY
Maureen, Alumna Mentor | @alpaca | Dec 18, 2017
In reply to @alpaca "Hello people. Three and a half years out from my last treatment, I am putting on..." + (show)
@alpaca

Hello people. Three and a half years out from my last treatment, I am putting on weight, worried about my teeth and concerned about my unhealthy relationship with ice cream. I know some of you are avid juicers. I try but slip back into the easy-soft-food-on-the-run type eating behaviour. Many of my head and neck cancer friends are trying hard to put weight on and indeed my weight stayed stable for about three years but now I'm gaining. Hard to get a balance.

Sooo, I had an epiphany the other night. I woke up and thought, yes, I can change my diet. I got up at 5 am and ran a hot tap over the remaining ice cream in its large container and decided not to stop all sugar but to cut back my sugar intake. I also need to make a greater effort with my teeth. In order to have a new dental plate made early in 2018, I need to make sure the remaining teeth are healthy to hold it. I've had a steady trickle of decay since radiotherapy.

My hygienist said that the alternative sweetener Xylitol really is good for the teeth (have to keep using fluoride though I think). I came across a stall for a company importing Xylitol products from the US. They are just down the road.

Hey presto - I think I am finally doing something for my diet and teeth in this strange post cancer stage of life where I feel perfectly okay but know I have to take extra steps to remain as well as possible. I'm going to gently ease myself out of eating sugar, limit the carbs, juice more veges and fruit and get my weight well below 80 kg again.

Sharing this with you as a slightly different angle on the soft food theme. Does anyone have any thoughts?

Jump to this post

That's right. Dribbling is okay but spitting is a bit hard. Thank you for the offer of gum. I can't really chew gum either but order Spry gum for a fellow head and necker. We have a deal with a local importer. I've also been lucky enough to find another importer just down the road who has a Spry or Xylitol mouthwash which is the first mouthwash which I can use without stinging. I like to use a plaque-removing mouthwash as well as the salt and baking soda and this one could do the trick. I will check with the dentist when I see him in mid-January. Very unusual to get a product that doesn't sting.
No ice cream has touched my lips for over a week but I'm planning on some for Christmas Day.
We will get back in shape together, Loli.

REPLY
Mentor
Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sepdvm | Jan 2, 2018

As a veterinarian, i will share with you that Xylitol is Very toxic for dogs. It can kill them with hypoglycemia or liver failure so keep gum and anything containing xylitol out of their reach. I also have cut back sugar and found that it becomes easier with time. I am 5 years out form my H&N cancer treatment and still trying to regain my weight. I also find that my hydration status makes a big difference in mouth dryness. Drink LOTS of water, especially in the evening before bed. Up to use the bathroom is better than that horrible dry sticky mouth. Best of luck to you.

REPLY
3 replies
loli | @loli | Jan 2, 2018
In reply to @sepdvm "As a veterinarian, i will share with you that Xylitol is Very toxic for dogs. It..." + (show)
@sepdvm

As a veterinarian, i will share with you that Xylitol is Very toxic for dogs. It can kill them with hypoglycemia or liver failure so keep gum and anything containing xylitol out of their reach. I also have cut back sugar and found that it becomes easier with time. I am 5 years out form my H&N cancer treatment and still trying to regain my weight. I also find that my hydration status makes a big difference in mouth dryness. Drink LOTS of water, especially in the evening before bed. Up to use the bathroom is better than that horrible dry sticky mouth. Best of luck to you.

Jump to this post

So, if Xylitol is toxic to dogs, how does it affect us humans?

REPLY
1 reply
Maureen, Alumna Mentor | @alpaca | Jan 3, 2018
In reply to @sepdvm "As a veterinarian, i will share with you that Xylitol is Very toxic for dogs. It..." + (show)
@sepdvm

As a veterinarian, i will share with you that Xylitol is Very toxic for dogs. It can kill them with hypoglycemia or liver failure so keep gum and anything containing xylitol out of their reach. I also have cut back sugar and found that it becomes easier with time. I am 5 years out form my H&N cancer treatment and still trying to regain my weight. I also find that my hydration status makes a big difference in mouth dryness. Drink LOTS of water, especially in the evening before bed. Up to use the bathroom is better than that horrible dry sticky mouth. Best of luck to you.

Jump to this post

Thanks. I have heard about the toxicity to dogs. Good tip about hydration. I sip water a lot but actually drinking it - not so much.

REPLY
Mentor
Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sepdvm | Jan 3, 2018
In reply to @sepdvm "As a veterinarian, i will share with you that Xylitol is Very toxic for dogs. It..." + (show)
@sepdvm

As a veterinarian, i will share with you that Xylitol is Very toxic for dogs. It can kill them with hypoglycemia or liver failure so keep gum and anything containing xylitol out of their reach. I also have cut back sugar and found that it becomes easier with time. I am 5 years out form my H&N cancer treatment and still trying to regain my weight. I also find that my hydration status makes a big difference in mouth dryness. Drink LOTS of water, especially in the evening before bed. Up to use the bathroom is better than that horrible dry sticky mouth. Best of luck to you.

Jump to this post

I am not an MD, so cannot answer if it is anything other than a sweetener for humans. But dogs and cats are not small people in the way they metabolize things, so it hits them very differently.

REPLY
Maureen, Alumna Mentor | @alpaca | Jan 3, 2018

I guess it's like the effect of chocolate on dogs.

REPLY
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