Hi I’m due to start treatment for base of tongue cancer in a few weeks time. I notice some people talking about fluoride varnish. Is this advised before I start treatment. I mentioned it to my dentist but wondered if there is a link to this recommendation please so I can show my dentist. Thanks so much.
I can’t think of a link. There may be no research on it.
It just makes sense as oral hygiene will be suboptimal during and for a while after treatment. We generally drink high calorie sweet food replacements when we can’t swallow very well.
Add to that low levels of saliva can encourage caries and radiotherapy can damage your teeth.
A varnish will give you three weeks of protection
it’s certainly not contraindicated as far as I know.
Why does your dentist have a problem with it?
Dani
Base of tongue cancer. T2N0M0 6 weeks Radiotherapy finished January 2019
