Hi all,
I wondered whether anyone had experienced mouth problems/infections with chemo and if so any preventitive/treatment advice?
xx
Yes! I had mouth ulcers, cold sores and thrush all at the same time for the first 2 cycles. Tried Daktarin through doc, yuk, it made me want to throw up! Then read some useful stuff on here so will pass that on as it worked well for me.
Brush, floss and mouthwash (shop bought stuff) teeth after each meal if poss and always before bed. You may need to buy a baby toothbrush if gums are sore, and try not to brush gums too hard. Eat bio yoghurts I found Yeo Valley plain very good as it wasn’t too bitter. It is cooling too and soothes the soreness. I used it like a medicine, taking 2-4 desert spoons 4 times a day, holding each spoonful in my mouth as long as poss. Last one at night after teeth brushed in the hope it clinged in there for a while!
Be scrupulous with hand washing after loo etc and use anti bacterial soap.
Fresh pineapple is also pleasant, I believe it contains a natural healing chemical but can’t tell you what it’s called. Eat softer food.
Hope this helps and you get some relief soon.
Irene
Hello Chatterbox
I used Medigel for the ulcers and also Difflam Oral mouthwash.
I had oral thrush with Taxotere (mouth completely coated with white - YUK ) and was given Fungilin pastilles by the GP - which cleared it up in a couple of days.
For the bad / peculiar taste I found Rose’s Lime Juice cordial good and also sharp lemon flavoured sweets.
Hope you feel better soon.
Love Anthi
Morning Chatterbox,
As yet I haven’t suffered with mouth problems since starting chemo but I knew this was a likely side effect so I went all out to prevent it! So far so good!! I abandoned my usual electric toothbrush for a ‘normal’ one with ‘ultra soft’ bristles. I found loads with ‘medium’ bristles but struggled to find a really soft one that wasn’t designed for children! Ended up getting mine from Superdrug, its a Colgate one and is fairly new out (says so on the packet I think). Also, I use an alcohol-free mouthwash, Dentyl its called. Never used to use mouthwash before but thought I ought to give it a whirl, it MUST be alcohol-free though.
No probs with infections so far, but I’m not working at the mo so that prob helps me. Still, its early days chemo wise for me really (had 4 epi so far), so won’t count my chickens just yet!!
Take care,
Kelly
-x-
Hi Chatterbox
I have had 3 x FEC and 2 x Taxotere - which has given me ulcers, oral thrush and swollen tongue which I kept biting and it has been very sore - resulting in liquid diet last time for around 4 days - soup, jelly and ice cream. Had second Tax yesterday and am straight into regime.
Clean teeth or use mouthwash ater eating - Corsodyl mouth wash is good - or just salt water.
I have Nystan for the oral thrush to use after eating, and this time they have given me Gelclair oral gel to use before eating as it coats the mouth.
Soft toothbrush a good idea for when its really bad.
I tried pineapple and was on the ceiling!
Hope this helps.
anita x
I had really bad thrush and mouth ulcers after my first TAC treatment and my GP gave me Nyastin, not bad but my Onc gave me Fluconazole capsules to take each day for 14 days, they were great no thrush or ulcers at all. I had my third dose of TAC yesterday and am taking Fluconazole again. Why not ask the Oncologist what he thinks.
All the best.
val
Hello all,
I understand if you can tolerate fresh pineapple its better to hold it in the mouth for a few minutes before swallowing it. Worth a try.
Malan x
does my head in. Ive done the flossing and the mouthwash and all that side of things…but within 24 hours of chemo ive got that yakky lump at back of throat and manky tongue. Ive had the nystan thing…and the fluconozole stuff…after 14 days of fluconozole finally a mank free tongue and mouth. Ive become obsessive about cleaning my teeth just to try and clear my tongue cos it makes me want to hurl. Ive used the daktarin stuff…but ick ick ick is all im going to say. Tried the yogurt and the pineapple and no joy. Got one more cycle of cmf to have…so fingers crossed no more manky tongue after its all done woohooo
Hello chatterbox,
I found that pear drops helped when you tongue feels like the surface of the moon. Ribena light helps when when “metal mouth” hits, and kids strawbery toothpaste is great when the mouth ulcers hits (it’s like a milkshake in your mouth!) used with a kids toothbrush if needed, for the bad days.
Hope that helps
Cheers
Janetscubagirl x
Had my third Chemo last Thurs and have been taking the Fluconozole again but this time the horrid tongue and awful taste is back. Last time it worked this time no. Nothing ever seems straightforward with BC.