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Oncology Dentist: Is it recommended to see a specialist?
Hi, my husband is 2 weeks in his radiation and chemo for tonsil cancer. He has seen our family dentist and he is not given much advice as to dental care. Thank God for this forum! Do you recommend seeing the dentist associated with the cancer center? I’m very worried about his teeth. We are using 1.1 fluoride in his trays 2 x day and he is brushing/flossing 3-4 times daily. Please any advise is so appreciated.
Thank you so much
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It's evident that you prioritize your oral health and have developed a personalized routine to maintain your excellent teeth. Here's a summary of the key points from your statement:
Emphasis on Oral Care for Tooth Preservation:
The primary advice you received was to take care of your teeth if you want to keep them. This underscores the importance of preventive measures for oral health.
Focus on Oral Sores Treatment:
The information you received was predominantly about the treatment of oral sores, indicating awareness of potential issues and their management.
Maintaining Oral Health with Personal Routine:
You describe your personal oral care routine, which involves using a toothbrush without toothpaste, brushing and massaging gums while watching television.
Use of Hydrogen Peroxide as Mouthwash:
You dilute 3% hydrogen peroxide with water as a mouthwash. This serves the purposes of debridement, whitening, and disinfection simultaneously.
Delaying Cleaning Due to Infection Concerns:
You've been putting off a dental cleaning, possibly due to concerns about creating opportunities for infection. However, you've had a semi-annual inspection with X-rays, and everything was fine.
Reminder to Brush the Tongue:
A reminder to brush the tongue is included, emphasizing comprehensive oral care.
It's important to note that personal oral care routines can vary, and what works for one person may not be suitable for another. Your proactive approach to oral health and regular check-ups contribute to the overall well-being of your teeth. If you have specific concerns or questions, consulting with a dental professional for personalized advice is always a good practice.
My husband was being evaluated for a heart and kidney transplant when the lymph nodes in his neck swelled. We went to the ER who set up an appointment with an ENT who in turn did a fine needle biopsy identifying it as back of throat HPV +16(luckily Stage 1) which was confirmed by his ENT surgeon with a biopsy performed in an operating room with a cardiology team on standby. He had 6 teeth removed by an oncology oral surgeon prior to the start of radiation and monoclonal antibody therapy(in lieu of chemo). His regular dentist was excellent regarding coordinating his aftercare with the oral surgeon, his oncology team and his heart failure team. He was told to use a high fluoride oncology toothpaste, floss and brush 3x/day to preserve the rest of his teeth and more importantly his jawbone(radiation is hard on it).Also fluoride treatment when seeing his regular dentist 2x/year. He swishes many times a day with Prevention mouth rinse for oncology patients(Amazon)which “soothes & protects oral mucosa…” (permanently affected by radiation to head & neck. I’m probably missing some of the other dental recommendations. Sorry so long!