Dry Mouth

RichL said:

dry mouth at night while sleeping

I'm afraid I still suffer with this years down the line.

I mouth breathe when I'm asleep so I tape my mouth shut. Not right across but from just under my nose to under my bottom lip. You can buy sleep tape which I trim down

I still need the odd drink so I have a glass with a straw next to the bed. I can drink out of the corner of my mouth.

I'm still using a xylimelt tucked onto my gum over a molar tooth

I don't need to do this all the time but I seem to have runs of dry mouth for a month or so and this regime works

Hi I’m over 6 years post chemo radiotherapy and sadly dry mouth is still around at nighttime. Its still early days for your wife although you might not think it. I tried all the sprays but none give any lasting relief. I did become adept at sipping water almost without waking. I have always used xyimelts and still use half if one every night tucked up in upper jaw against my cheek. It does help. We can’t get them on prescription but I have found these ti be the cheapest place if you tick  the box vat exempt that save 20% which over a year makes a huge difference. 

Yiu can buy them off amazon as well to see if she can use them takes a few days getting used to them  but if she does it’s worth getting them from below  

www.hope2sleep.co.uk/xylimelts-dry-mouth-discs.html

Hi Rich

We are all a little different so it is worth experimenting.  Unless you have experienced dry mouth there is no describing the discomfort it brings day or night.  It is a big issue that should not be minimised.  Her GP should be able to help.

Ever since I got to a stage in recovery where I could stand something in my mouth I have been using Biotine gel at night.  It is marketed as a saliva replacement and I guess, unlike Xylimelts (which seem to stimulate saliva, but just don't work for me), it is as it coats the mouth in a protective layer that lasts a number of hours and stops the drying out and subsequent pain.  I normally need to apply it just before sleep and once during the night to be comfortable.

An alternative that worked for me in treatment and the early stages of recovery was to have a humidifier beside my head as I slept.  Since I started on the gel I've not used the humidifier as it tends to leave the room damp in the morning (circa 75-80% humidity) and I needed to put the dehumidifier on to dry things out again!!

I also use Biotene before bed and it works a great. There is a Biotene mouth wash which I also use but not as much 

7 months post treatment and dry mouth is still an on/off issue for me. Some days/nights it's definitely worse than others but overall slowly improving. I guess everybody is different. Some seem to be fine in a short period of time and, as others have pointed out, it can last for years.

Since I changed my toothpaste to Biotene, I have found things have improved and I'm no longer needing to get up through the night for drinks of water. 

Mines is at its worst during the day if I have to speak for any length of time, but just got used to having water with me all the time now - before cancer my water intake was far too low, so maybe not a bad thing. 

Hi Rich

Just one source I would like to add to the others who may help you with information and also free samples of medications they are a wonderful Charity called Swallows :

https://theswallows.org.uk/support/resources/

Hope everything improves, it takes time

Tony