Anesthetic mouthwash UK

RedT76

Can anyone recommend a good OTC anesthetic mouthwash available in the UK?

I'm going through chemo and it's having a harsh effect on my mouth, cracks in the tongue, throat is like sandpaper. I've been using Corsodyl as prescribed by the hospital, but it's not having any effect. Think it may have antiseptic rather than anesthetic properties.

Another thread mentioned Difflam, but I'm not sure. Will seek GP advice, but thought I'd ask here in the meantime as next available appt is mid Jan.

Toothsmith

Chemo can be an absolute nightmare in many ways - and dental effects are certainly not least amongst them.

Your dentist would be a better source of advice rather than your GP - as we are much more experienced in the ways of the mouth rather than Drs - who 'do' about 2 h on 'the mouth and it's problems' in their whole undergraduate course!

One of the biggest reasons for the mouth being sore is - as you've noticed - the fact that with a lot of chemo regimes the mouth becomes very dry. This leads to every lump & bump on your tooth rubbing against your (usually well lubricated) oral tissues and making them ulcerate like mad.

Corsodyl is antimicrobial - which helps keep the bugs down but stains like mad! It can also be quite drying to the mouth!! So if dry mouth is the problem anyway - it won't really help much, and may feel like it's making things worse.

Difflam is a good anaesthetic mouthwash that could give you relief from a sore mouth for long enough to eat something with a degree of comfort - but often the 'numb' feeling can make eating a more difficult experience. The anesthetic won't last anywhere near long enough to give you a comfortable morning though - it really is only a few minutes it will work for. The numb feeling can be 'dialled down' a bit by diluting it a little if you find it destroys the eating experience.

Again, with Difflam, some people also notice there is more of a drying effect with it - which ultimately will make matters worse.

My suggestion would be to find & try a mouthwash for dry mouth. This, whilst still not a very long-lasting effect will actually tackle the problem of why your mouth feels so sore rather than the soreness itself. I have also found with patients of mine undergoing chemo that keeping toothpastes as bland as they can find, all help by being less irritating to the oral tissues made more sensitive by the treatment.

One of the products I often recommend to my patients if they have to go through chemo are the Biotene range of oral healthcare products. They are nice & gentle whilst still being effective.

https://www.biotene.co.uk/

I really would suggest you make an appointment with your own dentist though, just to let him see you and give advice more specifically tailored to your needs.

Good luck with the treatment.

brook2jack

This is an excellent leaflet about care of your mouth during cancer treatment http://www.brushupuk.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/BrushUpUK_PatientCancerFlyer.pdf

3secondmemory

I was surprised my dentist prescribed Glandosane (synthetic saliva in a spray can) - I’ve had secondary Sjogren’s for decades but lost a ton of weight after IST because my sore mouth was even sorer!
I’d been using Biotene but the viscosity used to make me gag! The spray is palatable despite not tasting of ‘lemon’ - I won’t bother with it again- it’s easier to take sips of cold water.

One thing that does help is to sit with very cold live yoghurt in my mouth. Probably sounds weird but there is so science behind it - apparently

Toothsmith

3secondmemory wrote: »

I was surprised my dentist prescribed Glandosane (synthetic saliva in a spray can) - I’ve had secondary Sjogren’s for decades but lost a ton of weight after IST because my sore mouth was even sorer!
I’d been using Biotene but the viscosity used to make me gag! The spray is palatable despite not tasting of ‘lemon’ - I won’t bother with it again- it’s easier to take sips of cold water.

One thing that does help is to sit with very cold live yoghurt in my mouth. Probably sounds weird but there is so science behind it - apparently

Some useful tips!

Not heard the yoghurt one before. Just REALLY make sure its sugar free. A problem of dry mouth is that decay can whip through the teeth like wildfire. The saliva has a protection and a repair function to teeth which you will not have if you're not producing your own saliva.

Some of my patients find the more watery sprays a little too short lasting - but like all oral products - different people like different things - so experimenting around is useful.

The more sour tang of properly unsweetened natural yoghurt I can see would have a stimulating effect on whatever function is left in your salivary glands - so I can see that that would be quite soothing. Just be careful to check ingredients.

3secondmemory

Toothsmith wrote: »

Some useful tips!

Not heard the yoghurt one before. Just REALLY make sure its sugar free. A problem of dry mouth is that decay can whip through the teeth like wildfire. The saliva has a protection and a repair function to teeth which you will not have if you're not producing your own saliva.

Some of my patients find the more watery sprays a little too short lasting - but like all oral products - different people like different things - so experimenting around is useful.

The more sour tang of properly unsweetened natural yoghurt I can see would have a stimulating effect on whatever function is left in your salivary glands - so I can see that that would be quite soothing. Just be careful to check ingredients.

I’m lucky to have a good dental Practise within walking distance. I have my routine Hygienist appointment this afternoon at . . . Wait for it . . 2.30! :rotfl: Even I can’t forget that! :rotfl:

3secondmemory

RedT - The Hygienist has given me a generous supply of samples of Gengigel, Curasept and Oraleive to try. I'll let you know how I get on with them.

Magnolia

Toothsmith wrote: »

I have also found with patients of mine undergoing chemo that keeping toothpastes as bland as they can find, all help by being less irritating to the oral tissues made more sensitive by the treatment.

My husband had many mouth ulcers which nothing was shifting. I did much research and found that toothpaste with SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate) was the irritant. There are a few out there that have no SLS in them but the easiest to grab is Sensodyne. He has used this now for over 12 years with no recurrence of the dreaded mouth ulcers.

Hope your treatment goes well and your mouth problems can be eased somewhat.

Toothsmith

That's right - SLS can be responsible for an increase in mouth ulcers in those more susceptible. It's not as horrific as some internet pages make it out to be, and for those not sensitive, it's not going to do you any harm.

As you said - the Sensodyne range is mostly SLS free. Sensodyne Pronamel is probably the least 'chemically' - so that is a good, easily available toothpaste to those with sensitised mouths.

brook2jack

Herbalux, dentalux from Lidl/ Aldi are sls free as are most of the Superdrug own brand range.

However in chemo therapy it's not sls that's the problem .

Live yoghurt and strawberries help as they have enzymes and flora that help repopulate the mouth .

However for an excellent overview for mouth care whilst undergoing cancer treatment read http://www.brushupuk.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/BrushUpUK_PatientCancerFlyer.pdf

3secondmemory

I hate to ask this, but seeing the hygienist is a big expense: I have MAS which includes sicca syndrome. In the past few years where I haven’t been up to afford regular dental treatment, my dentition has suffered. The hygienist has recommended that I go back monthly for the time being but at £40 a time, it’s a big expense.