Tips

I've found that it helps to brush my teeth, or even just rinse with mouthwash, using Biotene toothpaste and mouthwash, immediately after I eat. I don't know why, I guess it restores the balance of acid/alkaline, or replaces enzymes, or something. (Obviously, I'm not a scientist.)

The nurse practitioner at my doctor's office suggested that I try mixing a half-teaspoon of Lydocaine with a teaspoon of Maalox and rinsing my mouth with that to alleviate pain. She said I could even swallow it if I wanted to (ugh!), or mix the Lydocaine with water. I've tried it a couple of times and it helps, but I haven't needed to use it much, thank goodness. When I had candidiasis I was applying Lydocaine to the roof of my mouth with a cotton swab.

I've also found that I feel the need to drink water almost constantly. My mouth seems so dry otherwise. One day I stopped at a store on the way home from work (which isn't very far) and tried to ask a question of a clerk. I couldn't get anything out; I was just making croaking sounds! Now I keep a bottle of water in the car and sip from it before I go in anyplace, or take it with me if I'm going to be more than a couple of minutes.

This is affecting my ability to sing, also. I don't it's affected my voice any, but sometimes I can hardly make it through a 3-minute song without my voice cracking.