Matthew S Thunberg DDS, APC and Steven J Kend DDS, Inc

A very Happy Mother’s Day to all of the mom’s out there. I hope you had a wonderful and beautiful day with your families!

A little dental humor for everyone!

I know many of you have either been bitten by the flu bug or know someone who has. E.R.'s have been inundated with flu cases this winter season. I thought this was a good little reminder on things all of us can do to help decrease our chances of contracting this virulent strain of the flu.

Happy Veteran's Day to Veteran's everywhere. Thank you for your service and dedication!

In an article in the Huffington Post (8/18), an oral and maxillofacial surgeon discussed obstructive sleep apnea, stating that if left untreated, the sleep disorder can increase the risk of serious health issues, including high blood pressure, heart disease, weight gain, type 2 diabetes, and depression. The article stated that several options are available to treat sleep apnea, such as a custom-fit oral sleep appliance. If you snore, I highly recommend talking to your primary care physician about obtaining a sleep study.

For those patients that are affected by dry mouth, here are some helpful tips that may help you feel better: 1. Suck on ice chips 2. Apply a lanolin-based lip balm throughout the day 3. Use alcohol free mouth rinse, such as Biotene or CloSys. 4. Sip water throughout the day... 5. Suck on sugar free candies to help stimulate salivary flow 6. Avoid or limit caffeine-containing beverages 7. Limit or discontinue the use of tobacco products 8. Try Xylimelts. These can be purchased at CVS or Riteaid. See more

From the ADA: Study: Gum Disease Associated With Increased Cancer Risk In Postmenopausal Women. HealthDay (8/1, Reinberg) reports that gum disease is associated with an increased risk of several types of cancer in postmenopausal women, even in women who never smoked, according to a new study published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention. The article reports that the investigators found gum disease was tied to a 14 percent higher risk of developing a...ny type of cancer, although the greatest risk was for esophageal cancer, which was more than three times more likely in older women who had gum disease than those who didn’t. The findings showed gum disease was also associated with a higher risk of developing breast cancer, gallbladder cancer, lung cancer, and melanoma. The New York Daily News (8/1, Dziemianowicz) reports that for the study, University of Buffalo researchers used data on 65,000 postmenopausal subjects between the ages of 54 and 86 enrolled in the ongoing Women’s Health Initiative. Lead author and epidemiology professor Jean Wactawski-Wende, PhD, said, Our study was sufficiently large and detailed enough to examine not just overall risk of cancer among older women with periodontal disease, but also to provide useful information on a number of cancer-specific sites. Reuters (8/1, Rapaport) reports that the study had several limitations, including that it was not a controlled experiment designed to prove how or if poor oral health causes cancer, and it also relied on women to accurately recall and report their periodontal disease. See more

The American Academy of Pediatrics now recommends no fruit juice be given to children under 1 year of age.

Happy 40th Birthday Jenny! We all wish you the very best and many many more! Sorry that we all dressed in black to commemorate your special occasion, but it seemed appropriate!

Some interesting study results as published in the Lindberg Nutrition Newsletter: 1. Lycopene and lutein have been found to protect against photo-aging, skin rashes and skin cancer when skin is exposed to UV-A1 light. 2. Drinking green tea may help control or prevent aortic aneurysm. 3. Taking Folic Acid can help reduce stroke risk. In this study, patients took high doses under strict medical supervision. 4. Taking a probiotic may lower cholesterol. In this study patie...nts took inulin(a prebiotic that promotes probiotics) and saw a reduction in LDL(bad cholesterol). Those with type 2 diabetes saw lower fasting blood sugar levels and an increase in HDL(the good cholesterol). Before starting any supplements, it is a good idea to talk to your medical doctor.

Congratulations to Toni! Her new grandsons Everett and Talon finally got to come home from the hospital!

To anyone who knows of someone battling cancer here in the South Bay area, here is a wonderful resource for support. Cancer Support Community Redondo Beach: www.CancerSupportRedondoBeach.org

Some more photos from our Holiday Party. It was a wonderful time and always enjoyable to spend time away from the office with our dental family!