Blog Home

Xerostomia, "dry mouth" is due to reduced or absent saliva production. It may affect a patient's quality of life and can lead to serious health problems! Learn about the signs, symptoms and managing xerostomia. 

Living with Xerostomia? Tried and true tips from cancer survivor Speech Pathologist, Marcy Maksail, for Saliva Substitutes, Mouth and Gum Health.

On October 5, 2018, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the administration of the Gardasil 9 vaccine for women and men between the ages of 28-45 years. Previously the vaccine was indicated for individuals up to the age of 27 years. "Gardasil 9 prevents certain cancers and diseases caused by the nine HPV types covered by the vaccine". Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) can cause head and neck cancer in men and women. It is the cause of most oropharyngeal cancers in United States. These cancers and their treatment may lead to trismus (limited mouth opening) and dysphagia (difficulty swallowing). 

Difficulty swallowing, dysphagia, may cause the sufferer to feel embarrassment eating and drinking around friends and family. This may lead to lack of participation during holiday celebrations. With some adjustments it is possible to make celebrations inclusive and enjoyable for all. We, at CMR, wish you and yours a very happy holiday season. 

When should you recommend using a jaw motion rehab system like the OraStretch press to prevent trismus after radiation therapy?  Who is most at risk for developing trismus from radiation treatment? We provide research and a decision tree to help you prevent trismus in head & neck cancer patients. 

Trismus, or restriction to mouth opening, has many implications including difficulty speaking, eating, maintaining oral hygiene, receiving dental procedures and may even affect intubation. Typical measure of mouth opening is 50 mm and highly correlated to body size. An opening of 35mm or less is considered trismus. Trismus is preventable and treatable by engaging in exercise therapy and treatment using jaw motion rehab systems such as the OraStretch® press. 

HPV is the most prevalent sexually transmitted virus. The best screening for HPV related oral cancer is by a medical or dental professional. However there are signs and symptoms that the individual can monitor. 

This study assesses the negative impact of trismus (restricted mouth opening) on head and neck cancer patients daily life activities. 6-12 months post-treatment trismus was found to impact quality of life with decreased mouth opening, jaw related problems, eating limitations, muscular tension, dry mouth, swallowing and pain as well as anxiety and depression both pre- and post-treatment.

Investigation into long term effects of exercise intervention utilizing jaw mobilizing device on trismus in HNC patients. Concluded that jaw mobilizing devices produce positive outcomes that persist over time. 

The TheraBite's positive effects on maximum interincisal opening and health-related quality of life factors.

At the 2016 national ASHA convention, we presented on "Trismus Prevention and Treatment for Head & Neck for Cancer and Radiation Patients." Here we provide a copy of the slides for the presentaion and the handout from the session.

We have posted our first user-controlled webinar presentation about Head and Neck Cancer Rehabilitation Webinar, including information on trismus, xerostomia, the OraStretch press and TheraBite system.

Learn about diagnosing trismus, when to order a jaw motion rehab system for prevention of trismus, how to order, treatment options for xerostomia and more.

Learn more about what is included in the TheraBite jaw motion rehab system, including parts and their purposes.

I was recently contacted by a friend of mine, who's Mom was suffering from severe dry mouth as a result of chemo and radiation therapy. She had tried all the usual remedies and could find nothing that gave her true relief for more then a few moments.  But I had something for her to try...

Hannah, the spunky central character in the edgy new HBO series “Girls,” is a creative and endearingly naive 24-year-old bumbling fearlessly through post-college life. 

A new study shows that the HPV vaccine may reduce the risk of HPV-related disease.

A new study estimates that oral and throat cancers have increased by 325% from 1998 to 2004, even as smoking has decreased. 

Doctors connect the increase to HPV, the virus that causes cervical cancer, and which a new vaccine has stirred controversy.

“It’s very clear that this is becoming a major epidemic,” said Dr. Kevin J. Cullen.

Launch of the XEROS Dry Mouth Pump. This new product alleviates the debilitation from severe chronic dry mouth. Chronic dry mouth is often a side-effect from radiation therapy to the head, neck, mouth, tongue, jaw, and nose.

The XEROS Dry Mouth Pump provides continual hydration throughout the day and night by providing small amounts of liquid to the mouth via a controllable pump for improved hydration, function and health.

PNF is a very powerful stretching technique, originally used by Eastern European gymnasts.  It utilizes both stretching and mobilizing the surrounding muscles to improve the strength and flexibility of the tight joint.  PNF stretching is reviewed by James Scifers in the article "The Truth about PNF Techniques" in Advance magazine. 

The details on how brushing can helps prevent cardiovascular disease.