Dry mouth with Letrozole

taralou

Hi Edwina

I'm not a member of this group but was passing and noticed that you hadn't had any replies. By responding to you your post will be bumped back to the top of the page where, hopefully, it'll be seen by someone with the experience you need.

I'm also tagging and GRANNY59 into my reply as they are the Community Champions who look after this group and they can probably help you more than I can.

I hope you get this issue resolved soon.

x

Hi taralou, just seen your post. I have been on Letrozole for 9 years, and among the myriad side effects I have dry mouth, eyes, nose and vagina. I asked my dentist about the dry mouth and he gave me fluoride toothpaste on prescription. This largely prevents decay and also pain due to gum recession and thin enamel. I have both of these too, some age related, I'm sure, but some caused by Letrozole.. The other problems I also found solutions for.

I thought about stopping the Letrozole because quite honestly I have had enough of horrible side effects, but I am still here and in remission, and I think the Letrozole has played a large part in that.  BC can metastasise late and I feel it would be awful if it came back because I had stopped it too soon!

Good luck xxxx

taralou, forgot, he also gave me artificial saliva sprays, but they made my tongue sore. Xxx

Since the log-in system changed (wel, I [I]think[/I] it id! I haven't visited so often, but now I have realised that I can simnply log in each time (yes, I realise that means I'm a bit slow on the uptake on computers!) I shall do so more often.

I spotted this topic because today I am changing to Exemestaneinstead of Letrozole and wonder if anyone else is on it? Letrozole evidently held back the changes in the breast lump until earlier this year, but now that the lump has been removed, I hope this new medication will work.

I often have a dry mouth at night, but I hadn't thought that it might be the Letrozole causing itt. 

Hi Taralou.  I haven’t posted for a while.  Finished treatment end of September 2016 and am still on Letrozole.  I too suffer with a dry mouth and dentist recommended I speak to GP.  She prescribed Biotene Gel, which I use just before going to bed and this has helped enormously.

Sharon x

Hi to everyone who has responded to my post, latchbrook for bumping me up!!!

and thanks to  seaspirit44; ; and .

It's interesting to see that not a lot of people have responded as I thought this would be quite a common problem, so maybe not. At least nice to know I'm not alone!!!

The main reason for the post is the tooth decay. I have recently got 3 LOOSE TEETH!!! Never had loose teeth before, in fact my teeth have been really good apart from staining, plaque etc. So, when a couple of months ago my front lower tooth started to become loose, about a month later a back one started and now I have a front top one (right in the middle of the smile!!!).

Obviously this worried me and I did some research. I have always had a very dry mouth since BC, chemo, letrozole but was able to put up with it but now the teeth are loose I am very concened. So the research said that having a dry mouth at night can lead to tooth decay because of lack of saliva. Now I'm reallly worried because, like you seaspirit44 I am reluctant to give up the letrozole so seems I could now lose a load of teeth instead.

I have looked at the Biotene () but have found something called Xylimelts that you put in at night and it slow releases liquid for most of the night. I am going to try them and will come back and update you all.

I am also seeing the Oncologist tomorrow so will see what he has to say.

Many thanks for your advice and responses and hope all is well with you

xx