Mouth and Throat Cancer - The Treatment Journey

A diagnosis of mouth or throat cancer is life-changing. Prior to diagnosis, people may experience symptoms such as persistent sore throat, loose teeth, bleeding gums, sores that will not heal, jaw pain or stiffness, difficulty swallowing, lumps in the neck or mouth, or unexplained weight loss.

Treatment typically involves surgery, radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy, with many patients undergoing a combination of all three. A common pathway involves surgery followed by a course of radiotherapy lasting six to eight weeks. During the first three weeks of radiation treatment, patients often notice redness and increasing soreness in the treated area, followed by the onset of dry mouth.

Why Radiotherapy Causes Dry Mouth

The salivary glands are sensitive to radiation. Surgeons make every effort to avoid damaging them during treatment, but when the glands lie within the radiation field - as they often do in mouth and throat cancer cases - damage is sometimes unavoidable.

Some patients regain partial salivary function after treatment ends. However, many experience permanent and irreversible loss of saliva production. For these individuals, dry mouth is not a temporary side effect - it is a lifelong condition.

The consequences are significant. Without adequate saliva, the mouth becomes sore and vulnerable to infection. Teeth may become loose as the protective properties of saliva are lost. Swallowing and eating can become painful or difficult. Acid is no longer neutralised, accelerating tooth decay. The emotional and social impact of these changes - affecting eating, speaking and everyday confidence - can be profound.
XyliMelts Dry Mouth - Unflavoured

How XyliMelts can help

  • Stimulates residual saliva flow - even when gland damage is significant, XyliMelts work with whatever natural function remains
  • Coats and lubricates the oral cavity with a slow-release formula - providing sustained relief rather than the brief comfort of water or a rinse
  • Neutralises oral acids, protecting the tooth enamel that is already vulnerable following radiation-related salivary loss
  • Reduces harmful oral bacteria - helping to prevent the infections and dental decay that are disproportionately high in post-radiotherapy patients
  • Supports eating, chewing and swallowing by maintaining oral moisture throughout meals
  • Freshens breath, which is commonly affected when saliva is absent
  • Suitable for use day and night - providing continuous relief in the hours and years after treatment
  • 100% natural, free from alcohol and known irritants - suitable for post-treatment oral tissues that may remain sensitive

Using XyliMelts at Night

For post-radiotherapy patients, nights can be the most difficult part of dry mouth. Without saliva, the mouth can become painfully dry within hours - and during sleep there is no way to sip water, apply a spray or stimulate flow.

XyliMelts offer something that no other dry mouth product can: overnight relief that requires no waking. Apply two discs at bedtime and let them work through the night - stimulating residual saliva, coating the tissues and protecting the teeth until morning.

For patients whose dry mouth is permanent, this can transform the quality of their sleep and significantly improve their daily quality of life.