Healing Smiles

09/03/2026

GLP-1s may be quieting your food noise, but is your stomach getting louder? Up to 40% of patients experience GI side effects like nausea and constipation — small tweaks like eating slowly, skipping the straw, and drinking after meals (not during) can make a big difference.

We’ve heard and likely seen the great success people have on GLP-1s. But here’s what we don’t talk about – most people quit them.  

09/02/2026

Getting older comes with joint creaks, monster hangovers... and a stomach that suddenly has opinions about everything. Turns out aging slows digestion, but staying active and eating slower can help your gut act young again. 🥦

If the foods you love don’t seem to be loving you back anymore, you’re not imagining things. Here’s how to turn things around.

09/01/2026

Turns out that daily soda habit might be doing more than just "empty calories" — a massive study of 1.5 million adults found that each additional daily sugary drink was linked to a 10% higher risk of hepatocellular carcinoma and a 15% higher risk of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, two subtypes of liver cancer. Your liver already works hard enough — maybe let water take a shift once in a while. 💧

Researchers linked each additional daily sugary drink with higher risk of two liver cancer subtypes—not liver cancer overall. A hepatologist explains.

08/31/2026

Your mouth is basically the front door to your entire body, and let's be honest, some of us are leaving that door wide open with a "welcome, bacteria!" mat out front. Turns out flossing isn't just about impressing your dental hygienist twice a year — it's about not letting your gums send passive-aggressive inflammation memos to your heart. 🦷

As scientists link oral bacteria to heart disease and cognitive decline, a push is under way to treat the mouth as a source of bodywide inflammation

08/31/2026

Sugary drinks, not diet ones, are linked to liver cancer. In a pooled analysis of 1.5 million adults published in JAMA Network Open, each daily sugar-sweetened beverage was tied to a 10% higher risk of hepatocellular carcinoma and 15% higher risk of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. Artificially sweetened drinks showed no association. One more reason to cut back on the soda.

New data link consumption of sugar-sweetened, but not artificially sweetened, beverages to higher risk for HCC and ICC.

08/28/2026

We like our patients to feel at home, but not too much.

08/27/2026

Swollen gums, jaw pain, dry mouth—these can be the first signs of a rheumatic disease, showing up before the joints ever hurt. A new Rheumatology Advisor feature makes the case that dentists and rheumatologists working together could mean earlier diagnosis and better outcomes.

Though their presentation can be subtle and overlooked, oral manifestations can be crucial early indicators of underlying rheumatic disease.

08/26/2026

Big news, Topeka — Healing Smiles Dentistry is moving! 🦷✨

In 1985, Dr. Chronister opened his practice in a tiny, one-chair office at 10th and Topeka. In 1993, we moved to our current home, and over the years we've expanded three times to keep up with the wonderful patients who've trusted us with their smiles.

Now, we're thrilled to begin our next chapter. When our current lease came to an end, a door opened in exactly the right place: the former office of Dr. Julie Swift in the Westboro neighborhood, near Huntoon and Oakley. The layout is a perfect fit for our team, and we're currently remodeling the space and bringing in mostly new, state-of-the-art equipment.

📍 Our new home: 3100 SW Huntoon St., Topeka
🗓️ Seeing patients starting January 1, 2027

Same caring team, same commitment to your smile — beautiful new space. We can hardly wait to welcome you!

08/25/2026

Bacon, hot dogs, deli meat—experts say processed meats may raise your risk of oral cancer. To***co, alcohol and HPV are still the biggest culprits, but diet matters too.

Experts suggest processed meat can elevate your risk of oral cancer. Learn why here, plus other ways you can reduce your risk.

08/24/2026

A big new study followed more than 1.5 million adults and found that every extra sugary drink a day was tied to a higher risk of two types of liver cancer. Northwell liver specialist Dr. Peter Beah says the reason is that soda dumps a lot of sugar into your liver fast — and what your liver can't use gets stored as fat, which can lead to inflammation over the years. One soda won't do it. It's the daily habit that adds up, so making water your go-to is an easy win.

Researchers linked each additional daily sugary drink with higher risk of two liver cancer subtypes—not liver cancer overall. A hepatologist explains.