Oral health after radiation?

Radiation can definitely cause dental problems. It was recommended, but I didn’t know it, that you see your dentist one month before radiation. Since you had neck radiation it’s entirely plausible radiation is the cause esp since you never had dental problems before.

In my case I had dental problems before I was DX and after so it’s hard to know who the culprit is/was.

I still would have had the radtreatments.

Diane

I’ve done rads twice. First time 32 zaps. About 3 years later, had 2 cavities. I blame the Arimidex. Just finished second rads, 25 zaps, 3 weeks ago today. Not expecting any problems.

I wouldn't take AIs because I already had osteoporosis, and I didn't want to go on Prolia because I might need invasive dental work. That's more complicated than it should be because I might have a metal allergy, which would rule out implants (the issue came up during a hip replacement). When I asked my PC about getting tested for the metal allergy, she got snotty and said I had other things to deal with. So, my MO said I could go with Tamoxifen since I had a hysterectomy years ago. And my BS said it helps repair bone tissue.

I developed dry mouth and dry eyes not long after finishing radiation. Both the dentist and the eye doctor said it was the radiation.

Cancer treatment can cause mouth dryness, which a person might not even realize is happening. It can have bad effects on oral health. My onc nurse recommended using Biotene moisturizing rinse.

This thread spurred me to call my dentist--I'll be going on Prolia in September but don't see my dentist until October. So on the off chance she's noted anything I'd need to have done, or any tooth that looks wonky, I called to check. Turns out I'm good to go.

So thanks, you guys, for this thread.

I wish I had known about this dental stuff sooner. I was going through the process of getting invisaligns just when I was diagnosed. Was told by the surgeon that it shouldn't be a problem, so went ahead. While wearing my first aligners (changing weekly right now), during a cleaning, was told that a root canal I got almost a year ago still hasn't quite healed and I have a periodontal pocket. I also have some fillings I have to get replaced, and some tooth pain from one of them in the back. I was told the invisaligns aren't going to be a problem with fixing my perio/root canal issue, and to keep going. 

But, I am having radiation right now, and because I am small, the darned field for the machine (made for a man), goes from my collar bone, down the middle of my chest, to the bottom of my rib cage, and just about around to my back along my side, and up into the top part of my arm pit. That is A LOT of my upper body irradiated, and into a bit of my neck/esophagus. They are supposed to *only* be irradiating my breast. I even have a form in my file saying I explicitly do not give them permission to treat my lymph nodes with radiation, since they do not need it. But, I think, and they definitely won't tell me, their machine cannot work in a space that small. THAT worries me because I am supposed to get a partial breast "boost" at the end of my treatment.

So now I guess I have to go back to my orthodontist/dentist/endodontist/periodontist and make plans for expensive, painful, and time consuming work on my dental health very soon. Anyone have any orthodontic issues after radiation/hormone treatment?

Whatjusthappened-- Just wanted to let you know that I too had been told that tamoxifen hardens bones. I've got braces (at 51, I know, I know...), and I was told by the orthodontist that they would do the braces with me *if* I was on tamoxifen, BUT the changes had to be extremely slow to compensate for the hardening, otherwise it might damage the tooth roots. They would *not* give me braces or manage my care if I were on AIs, especially if I were to go on any of those drugs that combat osteoporosis. Tamoxifen blocks estrogen receptors on most cells, but seems to increase it in the uterus (thus increasing the chance of uterine cancer by a lot, I am going to have to be watched for endometerial lining increases and polyps), and in the bones. Thus the hardening. And it seems that the effect accumulates over time, so it lasts past the five years or how ever long you take it. I'm not going to be able to afford to take it for very long, essentially until I finish my invisaligns, and then get all my dental issues sorted after. I dread the idea of radiation making my teeth that much more vulnerable to decay on top of the invisaligns themselves. It just doesn't seem to get easier as we get older, does it?

ShetlandPony, thanks for the reply. I didn't really consider the premenopausal aspect because I am at the end of perimenopause. I appreciate the detail. That would be important for someone younger.

Wow Kimm - Mostly I was warned about dry mouth. When that happens, the saliva can't 'wash' out the germs that are always there & accumulate. Hopefully someone else know more.

Did you tell you dentist you were in chemo? What did he recommend? What did your oncologist say? They should have been monitoring this all along.

BTW - what I used for dry mouth was Biotene. I kept the spray by my bed and if I remember there are also a mouth wash and toothpaste and also lozenges.