Can You Prevent Oral Cancer?

Oral cancer affects over 45,000 Americans every year, according to the Oral Cancer Foundation. At least 8,650 people will die from it every year. The five-year survival rate after a diagnosis is 57 percent. As with most cancers, early diagnosis is key in receiving the appropriate treatment and reducing the mortality rate. How can you spot the early signs or even prevent it from occurring?

What Is Oral Cancer?

This type of cancer can strike the following parts of the mouth: the lips, tongue, cheeks, gums, tonsils, interior surfaces of the jaw and salivary glands. The classification is a subgroup of head and neck cancers.

Risk Factors for Development

Those who smoke tobacco and drink alcohol on a regular basis are more likely to develop this cancer. The disease is also more prevalent in men than women. If you have been infected with human papillomavirus (HPV), you are more likely to develop the disease as well.

Spot the Earliest Signs

The early signs are often confused with other oral health issues. If you notice any of the following indications, talk to your doctor or dentist immediately:

• An ulcer or sore inside your mouth that will not heal
• Mouth inflammation persisting for over three weeks
• Painful swallowing or lasting sore throat
• Any unexplained lumps in the mouth
• Jaw and neck pain
• Loosening teeth
• Red or white patches on the tongue or inside the mouth

The danger of this cancer type lies in its lack of early detection. The reason for high mortality rates in oral cancer diagnoses is due partly to patients not discovering the health problem until the cancer is in its later stages, after the primary tumor has metastasized.

If the dentist suspects oral cancer is developing, he or she may refer the patient to an oncologist or ear, nose and throat specialist. The medical professional will take a biopsy of the tumor or surface lining while the patient is under general or local anesthesia. Once it is diagnosed, further testing is required to determine how much the disease has spread. They may conduct an endoscopy of the throat or utilize X-rays, computerized tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans to investigate the extent and stage of the cancer and decide on the appropriate treatment, which could involve surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, drug treatment or other measures.

Prevention Strategies

First, to reduce the chances of developing this disease, quit using tobacco and reduce or eliminate alcohol consumption. Follow guidelines for general wellness, including eating a healthy, balanced diet including fruits and vegetables and exercising regularly. Wear sunblock on your lips and face and limit exposure to sunlight in general.

Take your dental health seriously. Follow through with your twice-yearly dental checkups and alert your dentist to any signs of discomfort or abnormalities in your mouth and the surrounding tissues. Brush and floss twice a day. Once each month, examine the inside of your mouth using a light source and a mouth mirror and tell your dentist if you see suspicious patches or bumps.

Neglecting your teeth only does your body a disservice in the long term. Always remember to schedule your twice-yearly examinations to identify and put a stop to any cancer development.

Cancer is a serious matter, and your oral health shouldn't be neglected.Contact your dentist about any discomfort to prevent the development of major issues.

Jen Stott is a writer and blogger, and works as the Content Director at Be Locally SEO in Salt Lake City, Utah.

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Oral Health Care and Hygiene: How to Take Care of Your Teeth

Oral Health Care and Hygiene: How to Take Care of Your Teeth

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Why Your Child Should Visit an Orthodontist by Age 7

As an orthodontist, I am frequently asked, "At what age should my child first visit an orthodontist?" The answer I provide often surprises parents. Even though people often associate braces or Invisalign with the teenage or adult years, the reality is that boys and girls need to see an orthodontist much sooner. The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recommends that all children have a check-up with an orthodontic specialist no later than age 7.

Although a young child's teeth may appear fine to you, there may be a developmental problem involving physiological development or dentofacial orthopedics that only an orthodontist will detect. In non-medical terminology, this means that we look at the way a child's jaw growth, bone structure, and emerging teeth will impact a child's development and appearance later in life. In many cases, orthodontists can catch subtle problems while some baby teeth are still present so we can monitor or treat them. We can often identify these conditions without exposing a child to x-rays.

In many pre-teen examinations, I simply recommend appointments to monitor the child's growth and development every six months or year. In this way, I can ensure that treatment begins at the best possible time to achieve ideal results in an efficient manner. However, in some instances, early treatment around age 7 is required to prevent more serious problems from developing or to achieve results that may not be possible without surgery once the face and jaws have finished growing...

I know that patients generally come to me to create a beautiful and confident smile, but there is a lot more that goes into orthodontics. In fact, a kid's check-up at an early age can give an orthodontist the chance to:

· guide jaw growth
· lower the risk of trauma to protruded front teeth
· correct harmful oral habits
· improve facial appearance later in life
· guide permanent teeth into a more favorable position
· improve the way lips meet
· avoid the need for corrective surgery as an adult
· make treatment at a later age shorter and less complicated

Beyond the potential health and treatment benefits of early intervention, visiting an orthodontist early in life gives you and your child the opportunity to build a relationship of comfort and trust with your orthodontist before beginning treatment. I find that this familiarity reduces any fear or concern that a child might have about getting braces or Invisalign Teen when the time comes. Similarly, it helps build your confidence that you have selected the right orthodontist to perfect your child's smile.

We all want to protect our child's precious smile. Younger children don't always need treatment, but early observation and routine monitoring can help protect your child's smile as it develops. Through an early orthodontic evaluation, you'll be giving your child the best opportunity for a healthy, beautiful smile.

Karen Conn, DMD, MS is an orthodontist at Udis & Conn Orthodontics (Jenkintown, PA), where she specializes in Invisalign and braces for children, teens and adults. She is also the author of the CONNmunications Blog. Dr. Conn received her undergraduate and doctorate degrees from the University of Pennsylvania. She completed her residency in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics at Temple University, where she also earned a master's degree in Oral Biology.
Udis & Conn Orthodontics proudly serves Jenkintown, Abington, Elkins Park, Glenside, Cheltenham, Wyncote, Huntingdon Valley and the surrounding areas in Pennsylvania. To learn more about Udis & Conn Orthodontics, visit http://www.UdisandConnOrthodontics.com. Contact the office today (215-576-5805) to schedule a complimentary consultation.

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The Importance of Regular Flossing

Every time you go to the dentist you probably hear the same question: have you been flossing? If your answer is that you don't or that you only do sometimes then your dentist will stress the importance of regularly flossing your teeth. Your dentist will also probably give you complimentary floss. Still, though, many people don't floss their teeth at all, or they don't floss regularly. You probably know you should be flossing, but you don't realize how serious the repercussions can be. Dental care professionals don't say this because they own stock in a floss company!

What Exactly Is Floss?

Floss is a soft thread. It's either going to be made of a multi-filament nylon or mono-filament Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). Nylon floss can be waxed or unwaxed and comes in assorted flavors to make the process more pleasant. Sometimes this type of floss will break or tear. PTFE is less likely to shred and break, but both varieties are effective when used correctly.

What Is Flossing?

Flossing, when done properly, reaches parts of your teeth that you toothbrush can't, like between your teeth and under your gum line. To floss, you should start with about 18 inches of your floss thread. Wind it around your middle fingers until you've got about 2 inches to work with. Hold the floss between your forefinger and your thumb, make sure that it's pulled tight and then just work it up and down between your teeth. Be sure to get the floss under your gum line gently, never forcing it. Your gums are very delicate, and if you floss too hard, you can actually cut them. Continue making your way around your mouth using clean sections of floss as you go. That's all there is to flossing.

Why Is Flossing So Important?

Your toothbrush only cleans the surface areas of your teeth. No matter how often you brush or what type of brush you use, it simply won't reach every part of every tooth. There's a tight space between each of your teeth and there's actually a small gap between your teeth and gums too. The tiny particles of food and tiny bacteria that contribute to the formation of plaque have no problem getting into these spaces. Mouthwash can help to kill the bacteria, but it won't help to remove the bits of food that get stuck there, and it doesn't get rid of plaque that has already formed.

Plaque, if left unattended, will eventually turn into tartar. Plaque is a sticky substance that brushing and flossing removes with little effort, but tartar is hard and crusty. Only special tools used by dental professionals and a process known as scaling can remove it. Tartar also makes it more difficult for your regular, at-home techniques to remove new plaque that builds up.

Fighting plaque is a lifelong battle, and it's the main goal of pretty much all dental care. Plaque starts to form between 4 and 12 hours after each brushing, which is why both brushing and flossing are both extremely important. Each time you brush you should also be taking a few moments to floss. The two go hand-in-hand, and they are two tools that work together to complete the job that is cleaning your teeth. When your plaque turns to tartar and you can't remove new plaque, then that new plaque is more likely to turn into even more tartar. This is a dangerous cycle.

Dental health not only keeps your smile looking its best, but it also prevents bad breath, gum disease, and periodontal disease. Tartar creates a home for even more bacteria leading to gingivitis, a gum infection. Gingivitis is the first stage of gum disease. The final and most severe stage of gum disease is periodontal disease. Periodontal disease is painful and all around unpleasant. It can even lead to the loss of teeth that have become too infected to save or that have become loosened by the condition eating away at your gums and roots.

Brushing keeps your teeth clean and looking great on the surface, but it's the places you can't see where plaque and tartar can really do the most damage. If your teeth look fine when you smile, but you have bacteria eating away at your gums and teeth below your gum line, then your mouth still isn't healthy. It's only a matter of time before you start experiencing the negative consequences. Simply flossing can save you a lot of trouble and money down the road.

Dr. Marichia Attalla, D.D.S, P.C. is a Periodontist in Nassau County, NY with more than 10 years experience practicing the art of dentistry, including the treatment of gum disease, gingivitis and periodontal disease. Learn more by visiting her website at www.nassaucountyperiodontist.com

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