Good question about the toothpaste! My husband's dentist actually gave him a prescription for an added flouride toothpaste due to the negative effects the treatments have on the enamel.

And wow, you're totally describing my husband's eating habits! My husband(65) is (was) built like a football linebacker, and ate like one too. haha Our continuing problems STILL stems from him eating incorrectly. I haven't found anything to lubricate the throat, just good old reminders on taking smaller bites, chewing food better, eating less, etc. And my husband found overcooked pasta easy to swallow, along with other softer foods. When Jim does it wrong, he'll usually throw it up. That is still happening several times per week, but is improving. It's not that he is feeling nauseous, it just gets stuck and he will gag. So it's 'user error', not the illness.

Oh, and i clearly remember the first 2 weeks post surgery. It was very difficult, but honestly it gets better quickly. Jim had his surgery on Jan 17. Only 4 months ago. We are now going to Las Vegas in a couple weeks to golf and have fun.

Prayers to you and your dad!