My oral care routine for mouth cancer and dry mouth

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My oral care routine for mouth cancer and dry mouth

We all know that we should be brushing our teeth twice a day, for two minutes. But what if toothpaste aggravates a sore mouth, bits of food get stuck in places that you can't reach with your toothbrush, or you can't actually get your toothbrush between your teeth?

These are some of the issues that I have experienced, and they make it even more important to have a good oral care routine. In a healthy mouth, there is plenty of saliva which forms a natural barrier to keep unwanted bacteria in check, both in the mouth and the rest of the body. A healthy tongue can move freely around the mouth so that food is all moved to the back of the mouth for swallowing.

Since 2002, I have had a lot of surgery and treatment for mouth cancer (read more about that here). My tongue movement is very limited and bits of food can remain in my mouth after I have finished eating. I need to clean them away to avoid infection. Here are some products and tips that work for me on a daily basis, to minimise irritation and keep my mouth clean and fresh! 

Toothpaste

Standard toothpastes contain a foaming agent, sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS), which is a well known irritant. Many people avoid SLS in products like shampoo and shower gel. I have been using SLS free shampoo and shower gel for a long time, because SLS dries my skin. I had not thought about the ingredients in my toothpaste until my consultant told me that it also contained SLS!

The toothpaste that I use now is made by Kingfisher and it is available at health food shops and online, for example at (Ad)Bodykind. It comes with or without fluoride and I like the strawberry flavoured one because it is fresh but also very mild. I occasionally use the charcoal one - it's minty but it is still quite mild.

For an extremely sensitive or dry mouth I would recommend Oral 7 Toothpaste which is moisturising and soothing. It also contains the natural enzymes that are found in saliva, which helps to keep the whole mouth healthy. 

Toothbrushes

At the moment (it's nearly a year since my last surgery) I am using a standard soft toothbrush with a compact head, which works well for me.

After surgery, a normal toothbrush can be too big and robust. A baby toothbrush is smaller and softer. After my last operation I tried a (Ad)Tiny Truthbrush which was great because it has a really narrow head that could get into small spaces that even a regular baby toothbrush is too wide for. The only downside is that it isn't quite as soft.

Mouthwash, spray and gel

Standard mouthwash also contains harsh ingredients such as alcohol that can irritate a sore or sensitive mouth. One of my favourite brands is Oral 7 which is specially formulated for dry mouth. I am not affiliated with Oral 7 - I just genuinely love their products! I have been using Oral 7 Mouthwash for many years. I have tried other options but I have not found any that I like better. I always come back to this one!

The Moisturising Mouth Spray is handy for a moisture boost when I am away from home. I use the Moisturising Mouth Gel to sooth any sore areas and as a massage gel for the tight scar tissue in my mouth.

Dental floss

I cannot say that I enjoy flossing, but I do like my mouth feeling cleaner afterwards! This dental floss from (Ad)WooBamboo is gentle but strong enough for the spaces in between my teeth which are very close together.

Pink sponges

Pink sponges probably don't need an introduction to anyone who has undergone mouth surgery! I use them daily - dipped into my Oral 7 mouthwash - to clean the areas of my mouth that I can't clean with my toothbrush. I pour a small amount of mouthwash into a small plastic cup, then press the sponge against the bottom/side so that it absorbs the liquid. I can then use it to wipe away any bits of food that are lingering in my mouth.

I also like to keep a few pink sponges in my handbag, along with a small bottle of Oral 7 mouthwash and a little plastic cup. That way I can always keep my mouth clean!

Squeezy laboratory wash bottle 

⚠️ A word of caution - this will not be suitable for everyone! 

Sometimes, after surgery, I have ended up with nooks and crannies in my mouth that are too narrow for a toothbrush or a pink sponge to clean. I found that carefully squirting diluted mouthwash into them from one of these squeezy laboratory wash bottles (available online) would flush any debris out. 

Small torch

A small torch is an essential in my bathroom cabinet - it helps me to check that all of my mouth is properly clean, and also to monitor any changes that I might need to get checked by my consultant.

That's my roundup of my oral care routine. Thank you for reading, and I'll see you in my next post!

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