What has helped you through your journey?

I have been lucky (touch wood), that I haven't had any mouth ulcers and apart from an issue with my tongue at the first cycle, my mouth has been good.

But I do work on it, I have found to try to keep things under control, and my mouth as safe as possible I do the following:

• I change my toothbrush EVERY cycle of chemo, so every 21 days - I throw my old one out the night before chemo (when i finish brusshing my teeth);
• I use soft manual toothbrushes only (I bought a 6 pack of colgate toothbrushes for $10 at Big W);
• I rinse my toothbrush in hot water before and after use (before use, it helps to soften the brush (and maybe kill off any germs) and after use to rnse and kill off anything from my mouth (hopefully);
• I rinse my mouth everynight after brushing with a solution of 1/2 tsp salt and 1-2 tsp bicarb in HOT tap water, until it dissolves, and then add cold water before using, to make it palatable). I Rinse my mouth, 4-5 times, thoroughly and gargle to kill any upper throat germs 1-2 times, then rinse in cold tap water;
• I do not floss (Dentist said that with chemo and mouth germs you can cause issues, by cutting the gums and letting germies in);
• I also have some tooth moouse that I am supposed to use, whcih helps your teeth re-calcify etc while you sleep (chemo can remove calcium etc from your teeth - according to my dentist anyway). It is VERy easy to use (mine is called GC Tooth Mousse Plus and is Strawberry flavoured (came in lots of flavours), my dentists gave it to me(you brush your teeth like normal, apply a small amount to your teeth, with your finger, leave alone for 3 mins, use your tongue to spread around your whole mouth, leaving it for as long as you can (min 1-2 mins), then you spit out what is left and don't eat or drink or rinse for at least 30 mins DONE) - It says on the pack it contains bio-available calcium, phosphate and fluoride, provides protection for teeth, neutralises bacteria and acid.