Oral Cancer - Prevention the Best Medicine

Cancer, the mere mention of the word sends makes chills go down your spine. As scary as the word is, with today's information systems (i.e. Google) and medical advancements many people have more of an advantage than in years past. Additionally, many people are more aggressive in taking a more active role in their own health care. These individuals arm themselves with as much information as possible and often begin their search with how to avoid a disease altogether.

Oral Cancer is real and deadly. Cancer of the mouth, or oral cancer, will kill more Marylanders this year than either melanoma or cervical cancer. Only 50 percent of those diagnosed with the disease will survive five years. This information was reported by the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH).The American Cancer Society's most recent estimates for oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers in the United States are for 2012:About 35,000 people will get oral cavity or oropharyngeal cancer. An estimated 6,800 people will die from these types of these cancers. These cancers are more than twice as common in men as in women. They are about equally common in blacks and in whites.

What are the risk factors?

Every part of your mouth can be susceptible to developing cancer. This includes your gums, the lining in your mouth and even the tongue and lips. It is good to remember that oral cancer is one type of cancer than in many instances can be completely avoided. You cannot change your age, sex or ethnicity - but if you have not been diagnosed with oral cancer you can work to avoid developing this condition. Here are some risk factors to for mouth and lip cancer:

• Individuals who consume excessive alcohol and those who smoke a lot are at grave risk
• Chewing tobacco is also an important risk factor for lip cancer
• Sun exposure increases the risk for lip cancer as well

The mirror (or two mirrors) can be a great aid in this case. Next time you are in front of a mirror take a good look inside your mouth. The signs can be right in front of your eyes. After taking this look do not ignore the signs. If you have a sore or an ulcer that does not heal, it will be a good idea to call your family doctor or dentist to have this examined. In the event, you have discomfort or pain which does not go away schedule a medical appointment quickly. Other items to look for which should not be ignored are as follows:

• White patches anywhere in your mouth (leukoplakia)
• Red patches anywhere in your mouth (erythroplakia)
• A lump on the lip, tongue or in the mouth or throat
• Unusual bleeding or numbness in the mouth
• Pain when chewing or swallowing
• A feeling that something is caught in the throat
• Unusual bleeding or numbness in the mouth
• Loose teeth
• Dentures feeling uncomfortable and not fitting properly
• A change in your voice
• Speech problems
• Weight loss
• A lump in the neck

Preventing disease is key to improving our health and that of our family's. When we invest in prevention, the benefits are widely shared.

This post is provided is a forum for you and your family's dental matters. No treatment should be taken based upon its contents. Please consult with a medical or dental professional.

When you have questions about periodontal disease, please contact John Robinson, DMD, at Embry Hills Dental Care 678-383-2622.

Looking to find the more information on Dentist In Tucker, Dental Care In Tucker, and then visit www.atlantageneraldentistry.com to find the best advice on Family Dental Care in Tucker for you.

Gum Disease - The Effect On Your Health

Periodontal diseases may be isolated to your mouth; however, their effects are not. Maybe you have seen the white papers or other posts on the web speaking to the research coming forth on the relationship between periodontal health and general health. Adding credence to the adage, “You are what you eat.” There are known risk factors for periodontal disease; these include smoking and diabetes. Also as we age periodontal disease can become a dental health issue. Periodontal disease and tooth decay are the leading causes of tooth loss in older adults (1).

Periodontal disease is commonly referred to as gum disease. This is a group of diseases caused by bacterial plaque. This bacteria gathers daily between our teeth and gums. In the absence of effective daily oral hygiene, it will in quick order affect your dental health. In many instances, cases of bad breath (halitosis) are caused by the presence of the aforementioned oral bacteria. As a dentist, I can say first hand, the odor coming from the mouth of a patient with active gum disease is often so distinctive that I can correctly expect the presence of gum problems even before I begin their examination.

The bacteria left untreated will collect between teeth and gums. A daily routine to help combat these bacteria can be as simple as maintain your brushing and flossing. Your periodontal tissues are comprised of four defined structures: (1) gingiva, (2) cementum, (3) alveolar bone, and the (4) periodontal ligament. If the choice is made not to have good oral hygiene, you have an excellent chance of developing gingivitis.

In cases where plaque and tartar stay on teeth, eventually gingiva will become irritated. This will lead to gums becoming swollen, and they will bleed easily.

Research continues to show that Gingivitis can affect other areas of the body and thus health if left untreated. Remember, we started talking about the fact of gum disease originating from bacteria. It should be no surprise that bacteria is not a good thing for our bodies. If the bacterium enter into the bloodstream through our mouth, it can cause infections in other areas of our bodies. Other posts have discussed how gum disease has been connected to cardio vascular disease and pneumonia. When individuals who have gingivitis and diabetes, they can have problems controlling their blood sugar levels.

Taking note of the relationship between oral and general health will hopefully encourage you to schedule regular visits with your physician and dentist.

If you have any questions about gum disease, general dental needs or even cosmetic procedures, please call John Robinson, DMD, at Embry Hills Dental Care 678-383-2622.


Looking to find the more information on Dentist In Tucker, Dental Care In Tucker, then visit www.atlantageneraldentistry.com to find the best advice on Family Dental Care in Tucker for you.


References
(1) APA: Older Adults and Gum Disease. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.perio.org/consumer/smileforlife.htm

The Connection Between Your Mouth and Your Body

Periodontal disease (gum disease) is an infection of the tissues which secure your teeth in place. It is suffice to say good dental health is important. No one ever has a wish to lose their teeth. Periodontal disease is highly prevalent in older adults, affecting; 34% of the American population aged >30 years (; 36 million persons), and it is severe in; 13% of adults*. Periodontal disease is typically caused by inadequate brushing and flossing habits. What are the causes of periodontal disease? Most times it starts with you. Brushing your teeth and flossing after are good habits to start and maintain. Not including brushing and flossing in your routine your mouth is open to a plaque attack. Plaque is a sticky film of bacteria left unchecked plaque will build up on teeth and harder.

Various Studies have shown that periodontal disease has important systemic associations which can affect the risk factors for disease such as cardiovascular disease. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. Since there seems to be a connection between oral health care and cardiovascular disease, why not look at some preventative care?

Now there are other reasons for cardiovascular disease can occur. Periodontal disease is preventable, taking a look at your oral health care habits may be useful. Below are some suggestions on how to prevent periodontal disease.

(1) The old standard of brushing your teeth at least two times as day still makes great sense. Now with travel and products like the Colgate Wisp, brushing throughout the day is even easier. Brushing can help to remove plaque on the tongue. This can cause bad breath and is an ideal chance for bacteria to start growing.

(2) Try an electric toothbrush which features rotating and oscillating. You may discover using this type of toothbrush can assist in the removal of plaque. (See our last blog - http://embryhillsdentalcare.blogspot.com/2012/01/is-power-toothbrush-right-for-you.html)

(3) Use an antiseptic mouthwash – there are several, try the one which has good reviews from your dentist

(4) Yes, get in the habit of flossing at least once a day. Curve the floss around each of your teeth. Do not rush. Be gentle as you slide the dental floss just under the gum line. Then use the floss moving it up and down to scrape of the plaque.

Dental care is important to your overall health. There are a lot of advertisements which only focus on a cosmetically appealing smile. However, having a health smile is even more important. You should make and keep your dental appointments. Working with your dental care professional can help you improve your health over the long run.

Article references

(*) Albandar JM, Brunelle JA, Kingman A. Destructive periodontal disease in adults 30 years of age and older in the United States, 1988–1994. J Periodontol 1999; 70:13-29.

When you have questions about periodontal disease, please contact John Robinson, DMD, at Embry Hills Dental Care 678-383-2622.

Looking to find the more information on Dentist In Tucker, Dental Care In Tucker, and then visit www.atlantageneraldentistry.com to find the best advice on Family Dental Care in Tucker for you.

Avoid Tooth Decay - With Good Daily Habits

Good dental health starts on the inside. A balanced diet that includes calcium and vitamins A, C, and D will help the teeth develop, from the womb to the time that they are fully formed. Good eating habits will help you maintain healthy teeth, but beware of a diet rich in sugar! It will increase the risk of cavities. Despite repeated warnings linking sugar consumption to tooth decay, the average North American reportedly eats 100 to 130 pounds [50 to 60 kg] of sugar each year! Why does sugar have the potential to harm our teeth?

Tooth decay is caused by two kinds of bacteria—“mutans streptococci and lactobacilli”—that become a part of plaque, a sticky film of bacteria and food debris that forms on the teeth. Plaque bacteria feeds on sugar and converts it into harmful acids that begin decay. Certain types of sugar are more easily turned into acids or are more likely to adhere to the teeth, giving the plaque more time to begin tooth decay. Plaque that is not removed can harden into calculus, or tartar, around the gum line.


Controlling the plaque and especially the mutans streptococci bacteria is essential for preventing the spread of tooth decay. So if you want to preserve your smile, daily oral hygiene is a must. The Columbia University School of Dental and Oral Surgery states: “Combined with flossing, [brushing the teeth] is the single most important thing that you can do to maintain the health and vitality of your teeth and their supporting tissues.” Effective methods of brushing and flossing are illustrated on this and the following page. Your dentist may recommend other tools and techniques that will help you to clean your teeth effectively and thus protect your smile.

Repeated acid attacks cause demineralization, or softening of the tooth’s enamel surface. However, such lesions are being remineralized every day. How? It has been shown that fluorides continue to help prevent decay by helping the remineralization process. Thus, while decay is an infectious process, it is also reversible if certain factors, such as fluorides, are present.

Having your teeth cleaned by a dental professional once or twice a year will aid in keeping your teeth free of plaque. Dental Hygienists have special instruments designed to remove plaque buildup and flush out bacteria under the gums.

If you wish to minimize tooth plaque, good oral hygiene is needed. Brush and floss regularly and visit your dentist for your cleanings. Follow some simple daily steps and plaque, tooth decay and bad breath will no longer be an issue.

Want to find out more about Dental Care In Dunwoody, then visit Dr. John's site on how to choose the best Family Dental Care in Dunwoody for all your dental needs.