Q: My dentist told me to go to my regular doctor because he believes I'm developing dry mouth. Why can't my dentist just prescribe something like a rinse or a toothpaste to take care of the problem? - Arnold P., Darien, Connecticut
A: Your dentist could prescribe a rinse or you can buy one over the counter, but the reason it's smart to see your primary care doctor is to determine the exact cause of your dry mouth (xerostomia). Effective long-term treatment starts with an accurate diagnosis.
The cause could be medications you're taking such as an antidepressant, or an autoimmune disease such as Sjogren's syndrome. It can also be caused by chemo or radiation therapy or diabetes. In addition, dry mouth can be related to snoring, smoking, alcohol consumption, high blood pressure, allergies, stroke and even Alzheimer's disease.
It takes some pretty good sleuthing to find the cause. If it's suspected to be Sjogren's, you may need to have a biopsy of the tissue in your mouth. That's why you need to see your doc. The sooner you go, the sooner you can start treatment.
So make an appointment and put together a complete list of all prescription and OTC meds and supplements/herbs you're taking - even the ones you take occasionally. If the cause is a medication or a combination of medications, you and your doc can explore alternatives, while treating what ails you.
For folks who are undergoing radiation or chemo, the good news is that dry mouth usually resolves after treatment stops. For anyone who finds that prescribed topical moisturizers or saliva stimulators are not effective, what's called a salivary pacemaker may be implanted. It provides neuroelectrostimulation to prompt the salivary glands to function properly!
But don't wait for a diagnosis to start easing your symptoms: Drink water frequently to moisturize your mouth. Chew sugarless gums containing xylitol to stimulate saliva flow. Also, avoid salty and spicy foods, acidic juices (like grapefruit) and commercial mouthwashes that contain alcohol. They'll aggravate your dry mouth.
Q: I know there's a link between a Mediterranean diet, exercise and reduced cancer risk, but is diet more important than exercise? - Jayla K., Huntsville, Alabama
A: We have long known that a diet that is plant-centered and doesn't contain added sugars, syrups, simple carbs, saturated and trans fats, or red and processed meats is the key to avoiding many cancers - including cancer of the breast, colon and pancreas - and cancer growth. It just makes sense that the anti-inflammatory, weight-regulating, metabolism-boosting power of exercise would also be an essential component of an anti-cancer lifestyle. But just how powerful? We haven't known until a recent study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology quantified the benefits.
Researchers at the National Cancer Institute, the American Cancer Society, and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health followed more than 755,000 participants for 10 years; 53% were female, and the median age was 62. What they found was that 7.5 to 15 hours a week of moderate-intensity activity or 1.25 to 2.5 hours per week of vigorous activity significantly lowers your risk of developing seven different cancers. The researchers say that those specific cancers have a clear dose-response relationship with exercise: The more you exercise the more your risk is lowered. In the study, those parameters for exercise time correlated with these benefits:
- Breast cancer risk fell by 6% to 10%.
- Endometrial cancer risk was 8% to 14% lower.
- Non-Hodgkin lymphoma risk went down 11% to 17% in women.
- Colon cancer risk fell 8% to 14% in men.
- Kidney cancer risk declined by 11% to 14%.
- Myeloma risk declined an amazing 14% to 19%.
- Liver cancer risk plummeted 18% to 37%.
So yes, Jayla, we've long known of the link between a healthy diet, maintaining a healthy weight and staving off cancer, but here's some pretty good evidence of how moderate-intensity activity can protect you from the big C too.
Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
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