Experiencing the “Clean” Nutritional Cleanse

As many of you know, I generally try to eat well and stay fit.  This habit is owed at least in part to my father, who was very careful to avoid red meat beginning in the 60’s (yes, the 1960’s) in an attempt to minimize his arthritic knee pain.  I inherited both his arthritic knees and his obsession with eating well and staying in shape.

So, since early this spring, my knees had been killing me.  And, the weight I had gained over the holidays did not come off so easily this year.  I just didn’t feel 100%.  It so happens that a dentist who is on an internet forum, which I read daily, mentioned a nutritional program that he tried and for which he had high praise.  So, I checked it out and followed the three week nutritional cleanse described in the book.

In short, the results for me were near amazing.  The first week was tough as almost everything that I normally ingested was forbidden.  I was tired, weak and hungry!

But, by the end of the third week, I had tremendous energy, felt wonderful and lost twelve pounds and a couple of inches off my gut!

The basic idea is to clean out all the bad stuff which had accumulated as a result of the foods and junk that I have been eating.  Then, after the initial three weeks, one-by-one reintroduce foods and so determine which ones make me feel “bad” and need to be permanently eliminated.

The name of the book which describes this program is Clean by Alejandro Junger, MD.

It is certainly worth a look as the number of people who have had success with this program is quite impressive as has my personal experience.  In the process of sticking to this regimen, you are forced to take a hard look at what you have been putting in your body and why.  For me, the big revelations were that we ingest simply because of habit and overdo because we think that if a little is good, more will be better…

My recommendation?  If you want to feel really good and could lose a few pounds, give this program a try.  Feel free to call me if I can be of any help.  You can reach me at the office at 908.359.6655 or via the new website at www.DesignsForDentalHealth.com.

Athlete LeBron James uses a mouth guard to protect his mouth. Could it also help make him play better?

Some mouth guard manufacturers have claimed in the past that their appliances could boost sports performance and now there is evidence supporting this statement. A recent article published on Medscape Dentistry and Oral Health and a study published by the Journal of the American Dental Association claim that mouth guards worn during athletic activity may do more than just protect the teeth.

One study found that athletes wearing a mouth guard inhale more oxygen and exhale more carbon dioxide with each breath than athletes who do not wear a mouth guard, whether the athletes without a mouth guard breath through their noses or mouths. Another report claims that biting on something hard helps to reduce levels of the stress hormone cortisol, potentially improving the ability to exercise without fatigue. In yet another study, testing the Pure Power Mouthguard brand “mouth guards were custom designed to put each athlete’s teeth in ideal occlusion. The effect…is similar to wearing orthotics, and getting the user’s jaws aligned can improve the alignment of the rest of the body.” In this study athletes wearing the mouth guards were able to jump a bit farther, bench press slightly faster, and score somewhat higher on Wingate anaerobic tests than those not wearing them.

I have actually seen several demonstrations where improvements in strength and flexibility are seen just by repositioning the jaw. That must be why many professional atheletes like LeBron James wear them. And the ideal jaw position is the same one that we use when treating patients who have TMJ problems. Regardless of the ability of mouth guards to boost athletic ability, they are important to protect against injuries to the teeth during sports activities.

If you currently use or are considering getting a mouth guard, the American Dental Association recommends a custom-made guard from your dentist for the most protection and the best fit. They are more expensive than stock types or boil-and-bites because they are created from a custom dental impression so they fit better, are more comfortable and are more likely to stay in place.

Click to read more basic information about the use of mouth guards on the ADA website. 

Considering getting a custom-made mouth guard? Have questions for Dr. Nadler about mouth guards? Please give us a call at 908-359-6655 or visit our website @ www.DesignsForDentalHealth.com.

NOTE: Originally posted December 2nd, 2011

Basic Description of Oral Cancer

Cancer can affect any part of the mouth including the lips, gums, cheeks, tongue and hard or soft palate. The most common symptom of cancer is a sore in the mouth that bleeds easily and does not heal. Another common sign of oral cancer is pain or numbness, which does not go away, or a change in the way the teeth fit together. Other signs and symptoms of oral cancer include:

-A lump or thickening in the cheek
-A white or red patch on the gums, tongue, tonsil or lining of the mouth
-A sore throat or a feeling that something is caught in the throat
-Difficulties in chewing, swallowing, speaking or moving the tongue or jaw
-A color change of the oral tissues

Who is at Risk?

Close to 37,000 Americans will be diagnosed with oral or pharyngeal cancer this year. It will cause over 8,000 deaths, killing roughly one person per hour, 24 hours a day. Of those newly diagnosed individuals, only slightly more than half will be alive in five years (around 57%).

Gender – Oral cancers are about twice as common in men than women. This is because men are more likely to use tobacco and alcohol over long periods of time and in large enough quantities to cause these cancers.

Age – The likelihood of developing oral cancer increases with age, especially after age 35. Half of all oral cancers are diagnosed in people older than 62.

Tobacco and Alcohol – About 80% of patients with oral cancers use tobacco. The risk of developing these cancers increases with the amount smoked or chewed and the duration of the habit.

About 70% of al patients with oral cancers drink alcohol frequently. These cancers are much more common in drinkers than non-drinkers.
The combination of smoking and drinking heavily raises a person’s risk much more than either by itself.

Sun Exposure – Many patients with cancers of the lip have outdoor jobs associated with prolonged exposure to sunlight.

Diet – A diet low in fruits and vegetables is associated with an increased risk of developing this cancer.

HPV Infection – According to a recent article in Time (October 5, 2011), the number of head and neck cancers linked to the sexually transmitted human papilloma virus (HPV) has increased sharply over the past two decades. This virus may account for more cancers than tobacco or alcohol, a new study finds. Overall, the risk was greatest and rising in men. HPV is best known as the virus that causes cervical cancer in women, but because of better screening, the rate of such cancers has declined. The good news is that patients with HPV-positive oral cancers have better survival rates than those with cancer due to other causes, possibly because their tumors have less genetic damage, which makes them more responsive to treatment.

Bottom Line

One of the real dangers of this cancer is that, in its early stages, it can go unnoticed. It can be painless, and few physical changes may be obvious. The good news is that your dentist or doctor can, in many cases, see or feel the tissue changes, or the actual cancer while it is still very small, or in its earliest stages. It may appear as a white or reed patch, or a small ulcer similar to a canker sore. Because so many benign changes occur in the mouth, it is important to have any sore or discolored area of your mouth, which does not heal in 14 days, looked at by a professional. Other symptoms include: a lump or mass which can be felt inside the mouth or neck, pain or difficulty swallowing, speaking, or chewing, any wart-like masses, hoarseness which lasts for a long time, or any numbness.

The only way to know for sure is to do a biopsy of the site. This procedure is not painful or expensive, and takes little time. It is important to have a diagnosis as early as possible, and your medical doctor or dentist may refer you to a specialist to have the biopsy performed.

Conclusion

Most oral cancers could be prevented if people did not use tobacco or drink heavily. Quitting tobacco and limiting alcohol use sharply reduces any risk of developing oral cancer, even after years of use. Many oral cancers may be found early by a combination of routine screening exams by a doctor or dentist or by self-examination.

NOTE: Originally posted October 14th, 2011