Hello @ally3 welcome to the head and neck cancer group.
You will find many posts within this group dealing with mouth and tongue pain. In addition, others may jump in here with advice.
Me, I am old school with warm salt water rinses and perhaps Orajell or similar over the counter ointments.
Tongue pain in particular is brutal as the tongue is so very sensitive to every little thing in the mouth.
Best of luck keeping your family member at ease through all this as it progresses. Maybe keep some cold water and ice chips handy as a quick pain relief which although very temporary does add some sunshine to the lamentable days ahead.
Is she getting radiotherapy from someone with experience in oral cancers? It’s important.

Hello @ally3. After reading your question, I had to search my memory banks for the products I used after being treated with radiation for cancer of the Pyriform Sinus, which is near the vocal cords. There a quite a few products that proclaim to relieve dry mouth. One great produce is XyliMelts.
The following is the online definition of this product from AI: "These oral-adhering discs stick to your teeth or gums to relieve persistent dry mouth. They are made of saliva substitutes that mimic the properties and functions of natural saliva, such as lubricating, moisturizing, and protecting the mouth. XyliMelts can be used during the day or while sleeping and may help with symptoms such as frequent thirst, sticky dryness, or discomfort in the mouth or throat. XyliMelts are also sugar-free and contain xylitol, a natural sweetener that may prevent tooth decay and plaque."
I kept water around constantly the first few years after radiation. Please tell your family member that time usually helps a great deal. She may even forget the products she used to help relieve the dryness! It may take a few years, & hopefully she will return to some form of normalcy. Best Wishes.

Hello,
As for me XyliMelts did not work. In fact they made my mouth feel gummy like so I stopped using them.
But, if they work for your family member then great!
I live near a dental hygienist school which is where I purchased my XyliMelts at a very fair price if that’s an option for you?

I personally found the hot water rinses along with sipping and hacking first thing in the morning and several times throughout the day and even through the night at times works best for me. I follow that up with brushing with toothpaste and also with prescription fluoride toothpaste ($20.00) as well. I also pay for fluoride treatments every 6 months during my dental cleaning and check up.

The dry mouth is a very annoying situation. I carry a bottle of water when I’m out and about as well. Talking is a huge dryness onset for me.

Your family member will most likely experience difficulties in swallowing food as well.
What works for me is water, lots of water to wash down every small bite…been doing all of the above for nearly 7 years!
Oh and BTW, speech therapy did nothing for me except cost money!

Hope this helps,
MOJO