Dry mouth

[Karen]

Does anybody else have a dry mouth all the time?  I constantly have to have water or something to drink all the time.  Not that way before the surgery, also can't eat or drink sour or real minty stuff!  Anyone else notice that?  Karen

[leapyrtwins]

Karen -

I haven't had dry mouth in a long time.  It went away about 1 year post op.

Have you tried the Biotene line of products?  They have toothpaste, mouthwash, some kind of gel, etc.  I used them when I had dry mouth and they helped a lot.

I think I purchased some of the products at drugstore.com but I'm pretty sure you can find them in your local drugstore.

Give them a try.

Good luck,

Jan

[Tod]

Karen,

I am just  couple days past 7 months post-op. For the first few months I suffered dry mouth all the time. Right now I would say I am about 70% of normal. However, I still have to drink a lot since I have almost no involuntary swallowing and when I eat I still have drink after most every bite, depending on what I am eating. That too though is much improved from where it was.

As for taste, most sugars and artificial sweeteners I still taste only dimly. Initially I could not even taste a Krispy Kreme donut for the first months. Regular coke is one of the few sugars that taste like I remember.

For the most part, it really just seems to take time. Things really have improved from those first days.

-Tod

[Brewers7]

I also used the Biotene products. They may be helpful.   My taste was off for several months.  I suspect that it was partly because of the surgery and partly because of the medication. 

[Funnydream]

The Omega3 fish oil seams to help my dry mouth and eye. Don't put the oil in your eye, though. haha.

I hope your symptoms get better.

[Doc]

Sometimes I wish I had that problem...I still drool like you wouldn't believe Facial Paralysis on the left side causes me to do that!

Take Care!
  
Doc

[sterry]

I'm at 11 months post-op and the worst problem I have has to do with the mouth!  The dry mouth part has improved, unless I'm doing a lot of talking and that makes it drier.  I do use the Biotene products.  My tongue feels as if it is leaking salt all day!  UGH.  I'm pretty much only drinking water and some black coffee, because everything else tastes tart!  I did try some acupuncture about 4 or 5 months after which did help with the dry mouth a bit....may need to go back and try again.  So I guess that I understand what you are asking, but do not have much info to share.

[Lizard]

I have dry mouth, but just make sure to drink lots of water.  Don't think about it too much these days so perhaps it has improved 
Liz

[nancyann]

I had dry mouth for a long time.  Now I vascillate from dry mouth to feeling like saliva is shooting out of my right (AN) inner-cheek !  This only started occuring about 6 months ago. I'm a little over 4 years post op.
Always good thoughts,   Nancy

[lori67]

 Karen,

I still have a dry mouth, 3 and a half years post op.  Sorry, I know that probably doesn't make you feel any better!     It is better than it was immediately post op, but I do drink a lot more water now than I did back then.  Probably not a bad thing.  I can't really do sour things anymore either.

I used the Biotene mouthwash when the dryness was at it's worst and it really did seem to help.  When your mouth is dry, nothing tastes right! 

Tod, if I couldn't taste a Krispy Kreme donut, I'd have to end it all!   

Lori

[Tod]

Tod, if I couldn't taste a Krispy Kreme donut, I'd have to end it all!   
Lori

It's rough, but there are far worse things. It would be really bad if i couldn't taste all those salty savory foods I love. And beer.

-Tod