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Oral Cancer - Overview of Oral Cancer
Facts:
According to The Oral Cancer Foundation, someone dies from oral cancer every
hour of every day in the United States alone. Over 300,000 new cases of oral
cancer are diagnosed every year, worldwide. This serious dental disease which
pertains to the mouth, lips or throat is often highly curable if diagnosed and
treated in the early stages.
Risk Factors:
Tobacco use is the number one risk factor in oral cancer. Studies have shown
that at least 75% of those diagnosed were either current or former tobacco
users. Heavy use of alcohol among tobacco users has been proven to have a 15%
greater risk of developing oral cancer than tobacco users that aren't heavy
alcohol users. Age and prolonged exposure to radiation or sunlight are
contributing factors as well.
Signs & Symtoms:
Unfortunately, in its early stages, oral cancer
can go unnoticed. Oral Cancer could look like a common ulcer, cold sore or a
discoloration of tissue. Fortunately, your dentist can see or feel if a lesion
looks cancerous. If you have any type of lesion in your mouth, or on your lips,
that doesn’t heal within two weeks, or a difficulty in swallowing for a
prolonged period of time, it is very important to see your dentist right away.
Treatment:
If your dentist does find a suspicious lesion in your mouth, he / she might
remove it, but will most likely send you to a specialist for a removal and
biopsy, which is a painless procedure.
If oral cancer is detected early enough, it could possibly be treated with
surgery alone. Radiation combined with surgery would likely be used if the
cancer is in its advanced stages.
Prevention:
The best preventions of oral cancer are not to use tobacco of any kind and only
drink alcohol in moderation. Avoid prolonged exposure to sun or use a sunscreen
on your lips. Visit your dentist every 6 months for regular check ups. When your
dentist examines your mouth at your routine check up appointments, he/ she is
also screening you for oral cancer. This process only takes about 90 seconds and
consists of a visual examination for any presence of cancer.
SUMMARY:
Although the number of deaths each year from oral cancer is astounding, it is
highly curable if diagnosed early. Prevention is a key factor in oral cancer and
a 90 second dental examination could save your life.
How Often Should I Brush My Teeth?
According to the American
Dental Association, you should brush your teeth twice a day. Brushing your teeth
helps to remove plaque which causes tooth decay and can lead to gum disease.
Always use a soft bristled toothbrush with a toothpaste that contains fluoride.
Make sure that the toothbrush fits inside of your mouth so that you can easily
reach all areas. When brushing, use gentle back and forth strokes, brushing all
sides of the teeth. Always brush your tongue to remove any bacteria and keep
your breath fresh.
 How
Often Should I Floss My Teeth?
You should floss your
teeth at least once a day. Flossing in between your teeth removes food debris
and plaque from in between the teeth that a toothbrush can't reach. Plaque
causes tooth decay and can lead to gum disease. Another great reason to floss is
that recent studies have shown that flossing helps to prevent a heart attack or
stroke.
When flossing, be sure to gently insert the floss in between the teeth, without
snapping, which could damage the gum tissue. Gently move the floss up and down
into the spaces between the gum and teeth. Floss the sides of all of your teeth,
even if there isn't a tooth next to another one. There are a number of dental
products available that are designed to make flossing easier, such as disposable
dental flossers.
Brush and floss regularly for good oral
health
Brushing and flossing are important parts
of your daily routine. But it's not enough to brush at least twice a day and
floss at least once a day - you have to do it correctly. Here's how:
Brushing technique
- The head of
your toothbrush should be placed beside the teeth, and the tips of the
bristles placed at a 45-degree-angle to the gumline.
- Move the
toothbrush back and forth, using short strokes and a scrubbing motion, several
times in each spot.
- Keep the
bristles angled against the gumline, while you brush both the inner and outer
surfaces of each tooth.
- Brush the
chewing surfaces straight on.
- Clean the
inside surfaces of the front teeth by tilting the brush vertically and making
several up-and-down strokes with the front of the brush.
- Finish by
brushing your tongue, which helps remove bacteria from your mouth.
Brushing tips
- Brush your
teeth gently using short strokes. Apply just enough pressure to feel the
bristles against the gums. If you are squashing the bristles, you're brushing
too hard.
- Replace your
toothbrush approximately every two to three months or as soon as the bristles
are worn or bent. A worn-out toothbrush does not clean your teeth properly,
and may actually injure your gums. You should also replace your toothbrush
after you've had a cold.
- Be sure you
are reaching every tooth. The toothbrush can only clean one or two teeth at a
time, so you should be moving the toothbrush around frequently.
- Use a
toothpaste that contains fluoride.
- Avoid
toothbrushes with hard bristles, which can damage your gums. Use a toothbrush
with soft, end-rounded bristles.
- Ask your
dentist to recommend the type of toothbrush that would work best for you.
Flossing technique
- Break off
about 18 inches of floss, and wind most of it around one of your middle
fingers. Wind the remaining floss around the same finger of the other hand.
This finger will take up the floss as it becomes used.
- Hold the floss
tightly (without any slack) between your two hands, with about an inch of
floss between them. Guide the floss between your teeth using a gentle sawing
motion.
- When the floss
reaches the gumline, curve it into a C-shape against the tooth. Gently slide
it into the space between the gum and the tooth until you feel resistance.
- Hold the floss
against the tooth. Gently scrape the side of the tooth, moving the floss away
from the gum.
- Repeat this
technique on all of your teeth, including the teeth in back.
Flossing tips
- Establish a
regular pattern for flossing so that you don't miss any teeth.
- As with
brushing, flossing should be done gently. Improper flossing can injure your
gums.
- If you have
not been flossing regularly, your gums may bleed and be sore for the first
five or six days. As plaque is broken up and bacteria removed, your gums will
heal and the bleeding will stop.
- By age eight,
children should be able to floss their own teeth. To make it easier, use a
loop of floss. Simply tie the ends of a 10-inch piece of floss, forming a
circle. Hold the floss tightly between the thumbs and forefingers, and use the
technique above.
- A floss holder
can make flossing easier for those who do not have good finger dexterity.
Special picks and sticks are also available to help those who find floss
difficult to work with. Consult your dentist about the best technique for you.
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