Researchers at Queens University in Belfast, Ireland, have found another great reason to take care of your oral hygiene. A recent study of data from 469,628 patients has revealed an increased risk of liver cancer in those who reported having poor oral hygiene that had resulted in everything from missing teeth to bleeding gums and dental abscesses. The study found that while there was no link between poor oral health and other types of gastrointestinal cancers, there was an elevated risk in a particular cancer: hepatocellular carcinoma. Researchers also noted that hepatocellular carcinoma was more common in patients who were young, female, who ate fewer than five servings of fruit and vegetables per day, who were overweight or obese, smokers, and those living in less affluent areas. This isn’t the first time poor oral health has been linked to diseases throughout the body. More specifically, periodontal disease has been linked to everything from stroke to heart disease, cancer and diabetes. Thankfully, there’s a lot we can do with the data from this study - namely, use the information to help lower the risk of developing liver cancer. Here’s what you can do. Maintain a Healthy Body Weight Because an elevated risk of liver cancer was found in participants who were classified as overweight or obese, one of the most straightforward ways to help reduce your risk of liver cancer is to maintain a healthy body weight through diet and exercise. This will help not only with reducing your liver cancer risk, but will also improve your overall health and quality of life. Change Your Diet Even if you don’t have excess weight to lose, adding more fruits and vegetables to your diet is a healthy way to get all the vitamins, minerals and fiber your body needs. Just five servings a day can not only lower your liver cancer risk, but can also help you maintain healthy body weight. Quit Smoking While this is usually easier said than done, quitting smoking is worth the challenge. If you’re ready to quit but don’t know where to start, speak to your doctor for more information. Take Care of Your Teeth It goes without saying that to prevent a disease that is linked to poor oral hygiene you should be diligent about caring for your oral health. Be sure to brush twice a day, for two minutes minimum each time, and floss at least once a day. Don’t forget your dental exams either! To schedule your exam with Dr. George, please call 724-220-2347.

If you have both diabetes and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder, you probably are well aware of how painful and troublesome both conditions can be on their own. Together it can often seem like the two are joining forces for evil to ruin your health and happiness. It may even seem like one condition is making the other worse - but that could just be in your head, right? Well, not so fast. The truth is, having TMJ disorder and diabetes together can actually exacerbate both conditions. So maybe it’s not in your head after all ... Inflammation As a diabetic, one word you’ve probably heard often is inflammation. Inflammation is your body’s response to fighting off infection. Inflammation in itself can be a good thing, but it can be bad if it lasts longer than necessary. Chronic inflammation can cause heart disease, arthritis, periodontal disease and diabetes, just to name a few dangerous and life-threatening conditions. Inflammation can also make the pain of TMJ disorder a whole lot worse, because the inflammation affects the joints. Diabetic Diets and TMJ Disorder One of the keys to maintaining a healthy life with diabetes is by eating healthy food. Unfortunately sometimes healthy food can make TMJ disorder symptoms worse, so be sure you are eating the right healthy foods. Try foods that are high in vitamin D to help reduce inflammation, such as salmon, leafy greens and quinoa – all of which also happen to be easy to chew, even with TMJ disorder. You may also want to try steaming vegetables so they are softer, and eating soft fruits such as bananas, citrus, berries and ripe peaches. Apples can be cut into smaller bites, made into applesauce or baked. Other great TMJD options that are suitable for diabetics are peanut butter, hummus or any other pureed or blended nut - provided it does not have any sugar added. Finally, soft cheeses like fresh mozzarella, cottage cheese and Monterey jack are all excellent sources of protein that will not break your diet. You can even try sugar-free or "light" yogurt, which has active cultures that can regulate both your gut bacteria and oral bacteria. Plus, yogurt can help regulate another inflammatory condition: inflammatory bowel disease. Remember, your oral health is closely connected to your overall health and well-being. When you take care of your mouth, your entire body benefits, but when you neglect your oral health, your entire body can just as easily suffer. To learn more about TMJ disorder, please give Dr. Alexandra George a call at 724-220-2347.

When you suffer from temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder, getting relief from the pain can become a major priority. But unfortunately, there isn’t always a whole lot you can do. Pain pills only work so well, and physical therapy and neuromuscular orthodontics work well but may take time. If you are looking for ways to get immediate relief or lessen the amount of discomfort your TMJ disorder symptoms cause you, try these lifestyle tips to help create a more comfortable jaw, naturally.

You already know that maintaining a healthy body weight is key to living a long, active life, and that losing weight can help prevent myriad illnesses, from diabetes to heart disease to cancer. But what you may not realize is that maintaining a healthy weight can also help ease the symptoms of another painful condition that affects millions of people each year: temporomandibular joint disorder, or TMJD.

When you have a temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD), simple things like eating can be extremely difficult. That’s because the jaw pain and stiffness that often goes hand in hand with a TMD can make chewing anything from painful to nearly impossible. Thankfully, there are some foods that are easier on the temporomandibular joint than others. If you suffer from TMD pain, check out this list of TMD-safe (and not-so-safe) foods.