1. < Head & Neck Cancer

Dry Mouth. Particularly at night. Solutions?

Posted by sandy8043 @sandy8043, May 20 10:17am

I was diagnosed with Squamous of the tongue and lymph nodes. Following surgery, radiation and chemo/cysplatin I've had chronic dry mouth. A friend of my husband's who had similar surgery recommended Xylimelts stick on mints. I bought mine off Amazon and the box of 40 was less that 20 bucks. They really work. I sleep through the night. And my daytime dryness is much better also. They work for me.

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roblem | @roblem | May 21 12:56pm

I had chemo radiation for left tonsil cancer back in 2008 and tried electrical stimulation acupuncture in 2015 where I was tested to get a baseline and retested after 8-10 appts. and had great results. Never needed to go back.

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RW | @nbkod7b | May 22 4:48pm

How long have you been using them? There are some concerning reviews online about this product from people who have used it for extended periods.

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sandy8043 | @sandy8043 | May 22 4:52pm

I've been using them for about 2 weeks. It seems to me that when my lymphedema flares up I have a very dry mouth at night. When its not as inflamed my mouth has a little more saliva. They do seem to help no matter how the lymphedema is. I will look to see more about long term use. Thanks

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1 reply
RW | @nbkod7b | May 24 11:13am
In reply to @sandy8043 "I've been using them for about 2 weeks. It seems to me that when my lymphedema..." + (show)
@sandy8043

I've been using them for about 2 weeks. It seems to me that when my lymphedema flares up I have a very dry mouth at night. When its not as inflamed my mouth has a little more saliva. They do seem to help no matter how the lymphedema is. I will look to see more about long term use. Thanks

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It might help me so I'm going to check into it as well. Thanks for talking about it as this was not on my horizon.

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Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | May 26 8:27pm

@sandy8043, you might also find some helpful tips in this related discussion:
- Saliva and dry mouth: Head and neck cancer and treatments
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/saliva-and-dry-mouth/

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pjrtoo | @pjrtoo | May 30 8:16am

Biotene line of products for dry mouth. Spray is effective for me, especially epiglottis/swallowing.
Xylimelts also daytime, not just cpap night time. Outlasts short life lozenges! Can't chew gum!!
Xylitol powder as substitute for sugar upset my GI tract. Xylimelts and Biotene don't. Each patient/person is unique to what helps or not, or irritates. One person's negative review is not the endall.

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pjrtoo | @pjrtoo | May 30 8:17am

Biotene spray is effective long time after 2 or 3 sprays!

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