Is periodontal disease associated with stomach cancer?
Did you know that brushing and flossing may actually reduce your risk for developing stomach cancer? A recent study completed at New York University (NYU) suggests that periodontal disease may be linked to an increased risk for precancerous gastric lesions. In other words, gum disease may be associated with an increased risk for developing stomach sores which may transform into cancer. The study involved 35 individuals with precancerous lesions and found that 32% of these ind
Another reason to brush your teeth
Did you know that brushing your teeth may reduce your risk of throat cancer? A new study performed at New York University published in the journal Cancer Research suggests that higher bacterial levels linked to periodontal disease may increase an individual's risk for developing esophageal cancer. The research was performed over 10 years, and 122,000 salivary samples were analyzed. Of the 122,000 people, 106 participants developed throat cancer. What does this all mean? The s
Could Brushing Your Teeth Actually Reduce Your Risk of Developing Cancer?
This sounds almost not believable, but research is suggesting that keeping those pearly whites in good shape may actually help in reducing your risk for developing certain cancers. According to Dr. Dana Hashim at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, regular dental visits and daily tooth brushing may reduce an individual's risk of developing some head and neck cancers. How did they find this out? The researchers evaluated former studies performed in Europe, Jap
How To Care For Your Teeth At Home While Undergoing Cancer Therapy
How does cancer care affect my mouth? As mentioned in other sections of this blog, cancer therapies, including chemotherapy, head and/or neck radiation as well as other cancer therapies may lead to a variety of oral and dental manifestations, including mucositis (mouth sores) and oral infections. Should I modify my oral hygiene during treatment? Well, that depends on how you were caring for your teeth prior to starting therapy. I often recommend that all of my patients receiv
Oral bacteria and pancreatic cancer: how are they related?
Bacteria in one's mouth and pancreatic cancer? Yes, you read that correctly. It is well established that oral health is linked to systemic health, and the relationships between oral health and the systemic continue to increase. Research conducted by Jiyoung Ahn, PhD, professor at NYU Langone Medical Center, suggests that certain oral bacteria may be linked to an increased risk for developing pancreatic cancer. Specifically, the researchers found that two species implicated in
September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month: How much do you know about going gold?
There has been a lot of media press lately about the empire state building refusing to go gold for childhood cancer, but how much do you actually know about childhood cancer? Did you know that approximately 15,780 children each year in the United States are diagnosed with cancer? Or that the general category for childhood cancers encompasses 12 types of cancers? The most common childhood cancers include lymphoma, leukemia, brain and other central nervous system tumors, neurob
Stages v. Grades: What's the Difference?
Cancer is often described in terms of stages and grades, but it is easy to confuse the two terms. Oncologists use both terms to identify the progression of the disease which helps determine the appropriate treatment. STAGE Stage often refers to the size of the tumor as well as whether the tumor has metastatized, or spread. In the U.S., staging is often described according to the TNM classification system devised by Pierre Denoix in the late 1940's and 1950s. This widely accep
What is cancer?
This helpful video from FoundationMedicine explains what cancer is in 3 minutes. References Cancer Explained. FoundationMedicine. Cambridge, Massachusetts, 23 Nov. 2013. YouTube. Web. 02 Sept. 2015. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwbuW7oK8rk>. #cancer #dentaloncology #oralcancer #lymphoma #metastaticcancertobone #prostatecancer #breastcancer #bonecancer
What are 'invasive' dental procedures?
It is important to understand the difference between invasive and non-invasive procedures as invasive dental procedures are not recommended when blood cell counts are below certain levels. Invasive Dental Procedures Invasive dental procedures include those that involve manipulation of the gums (gingival tissue) or perforation of the oral mucosa such as extractions, gum surgery (gingivectomy/periodontal Surgery) or dental implants. Non-Invasive Dental Procedures Non-invasive d
How Does Chemotherapy Affect Oral and Dental Health?
Although there are side effects associated with chemotherapy, it is important to note that the side effects typically resolve when patients end their treatment. To oversimplify chemotherapy, it interferes with the metabolism and reproduction of tumor cells also known as neoplastic cells. In the process of altering the metabolism and reproduction of these cells, chemotherapy also affects other rapidly dividing cells in the body including the cells responsible for defending the