{"id":76,"date":"2016-07-20T19:09:09","date_gmt":"2016-07-20T19:09:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.prestonbenddental.com\/blog\/?p=76"},"modified":"2017-06-12T15:10:01","modified_gmt":"2017-06-12T15:10:01","slug":"dentist-plano-discusses-oral-breast-cancer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.prestonbenddental.com\/blog\/2016\/07\/20\/dentist-plano-discusses-oral-breast-cancer\/","title":{"rendered":"Your Dentist in Plano Discusses Oral Health and Breast Cancer"},"content":{"rendered":"\"dentist\"In the United States, more than 200,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year. Research has found that there is a link between oral health and the likelihood of being diagnosed with breast cancer. The Journal of Breast Cancer Research and Treatment surveyed 3,000 people and found that among those with chronic periodontal disease there was a higher incidence of breast cancer. Therefore, seeing Dr. Madhav, your dentist in Plano<\/a>, is important for helping to prevent this disease and for making sure teeth and gums remain healthy if you are undergoing chemotherapy or radiation for breast cancer.\r\n\r\n\r\n

Breast Cancer and Your Smile<\/h2>\r\nAmong people being treated for breast cancer\u2014and although women make up the majority of breast cancer patients, men can be diagnosed as well\u2014more than one-third will develop complications that affect their oral health. Moreover, preexisting or untreated oral disease such as tooth decay or periodontal disease can complicate cancer treatment. With this in mind, the American Cancer Society recommends seeing your dentist at least one month before you begin treatment.\r\n\r\nMost chemotherapy treatments suppress white blood cells, which help protect against infection including periodontal disease. In addition, chemotherapy tends to decrease saliva production, which can lead to dry mouth, tooth decay and other oral complications. All of these can be hazardous when your immune system is suppressed.\r\n\r\nChemotherapy can also cause a person\u2019s mouth to become inflamed, a condition called mucositis. This can be quite painful and may impact a patient\u2019s ability to taste, swallow, speak and even sleep.\r\n

Tips for Maintaining Oral Health During Breast Cancer Treatment<\/h2>\r\nTo keep your teeth and gums healthy while you are having chemotherapy or radiation treatments, Dr. Madhav recommends the following:\r\n