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
Could Green Tea Kill Oral Cancer?
Matcha matcha matcha. It seems to be all the hype these days. Matcha latte. Iced vanilla matcha. It's delicious, it's colorful, and it's become especially popular because of its purported health benefits. But did you know that green tea may also fight against oral cancer cells? A compound known as epiogallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) may kill oral cancer cells without harming non-cancerous healthy cells. Research conducted at Penn State indicates that EGCG may trigger the forma
Hepatitis C and Head and Neck Cancers: What You Need to Know
New research suggests that hepatitis C is linked to an increased risk for developing head and neck cancers. It has been known for a while that Hepatitis C may be associated with an heightened risk for developing lymphoma and liver cancer. Dr. Harry Torres at University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center evaluated 34,545 patients with a history of Hepatitis C and reported that 409 of these patients had head and neck cancers. They reported that patients with a history of Hepa
Can HPV Vaccines Really Help Prevent Cancer?
There's been all of this hype about HPV and an ongoing debate over whether or not to vaccinate against HPV, but what exactly is it? Should everyone be vaccinated against HPV? To understand the significance, or rationale, behind the HPV vaccine, we need to first understand the virus and who it affects. The human papillomavirus, also known as HPV, is a DNA virus with over 150 strains. Each strain is labeled with a different number. HPV may be spread through sexual or non-sexual
What is an obturator?
Did you know that Sigmund Freud wore an obturator? Diagnosed in 1923 with oral cancer, the father of psychoanalysis underwent a maxillectomy (his upper jaw was removed) and subsequently wore a palatal obturator. So what is an obturator? A palatal obturator is a removable dental prosthetic device which fills a fistula or cavity such as one that might be created after a maxillectomy. After a maxillectomy, the wall between the oral cavity and maxillary sinuses is lost. A palatal
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
10 Facts about Oral Cancer You Might Not Know!
April is oral cancer awareness month. To spread awareness about oral cancer, here are some facts about oral cancer that you might not know: 1.Oral cancer is commonly associated with a strong history of synergistically using both alcohol and tobacco. In fact, drinking and smoking increases one's risk of developing oral cancer by 15 times. 2.Recently there has been an increase in oral cancer linked human papilloma virus 16 (hpv 16), a virus implicated in cervical cancer. The ma
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
The Oral and Dental Conditions Associated with Stem Cell Transplants: A Closer Look
Indubitably, hematopoietic stem cell transplants (HSCT) are lifesaving and have transformed the field of medicine. Hematopoietic stem cell transplants (HSCT) may involve either the transfer of stem cells from one individual to another, known as an allogeneic HSCT or the return of the harvested cells to the same person known as an autologous HSCT. Nonetheless, these treatments are linked to orofacial conditions mainly due to the immunosuppressive nature of the pre-transplant t
Oral Cancer Screening from the Oral Cancer Foundation
This is a comprehensive overview of how to conduct a thorough head and neck oral cancer screening from the oral cancer foundation website. #oralcancerscreening #oralcancer #cancer