Roza Mason
Oral cancer is still quite rare but the numbers of those being diagnosed with this disease is unfortunately increasing. The real problem with oral cancer is that it is easy to ignore initial symptoms and this condition is frequently diagnosed when it is already well advanced and when treatment is much more invasive and isn’t likely to be so successful. This is why you’ll find your dentist at the Cosmetic Dentistry Center is particularly keen on regular check-ups as a screening for oral cancer is included.
If you smoke, then quitting will reduce your risk of developing oral cancer. This is because smoking or using other tobacco products exposes the tissues in your mouth to many harmful chemicals that have been proven to increase the risk of oral cancer. These include formaldehyde, ammonia and carbon monoxide. We know it isn’t easy to quit smoking but you’ll find the dental team here at the Cosmetic Dentistry Center can offer you advice and support and it could be a good resolution for the New Year.
Drinking alcohol also increases your risk of oral cancer as it contains nitrosamines. Drinking to excess will put you at increased risk so it might be worth thinking about strategies to cut down on your weekly alcohol consumption. One way to do so is to alternate alcoholic drinks with non-alcoholic drinks.
Eating well will help reduce your risk of developing various forms of cancer, not just oral cancer, by ensuring your body receives plenty of nutrients and antioxidants. Cutting down on sugary foods and foods high in saturated fat will help, as will increasing your intake of fruits and vegetables.
Oral cancer has been linked to the human papilloma virus (HPV). Most people will contract some form if this virus during their lifetime as there are more than 100 different strains and in many cases this virus will not pose any risk. However some strains of HPV can increase the risk of oral cancer.
As we mentioned earlier, we do screen our patients at regular intervals for signs of oral cancer. To do this, the cosmetic dentist nyc will visually check the oral tissues, including your cheeks, lips, tongue and the roof and floor of your mouth. This is to check for any changes to these tissues which can include color changes, areas where the skin has changed texture and any sore spots that aren’t healing properly. If dentist do see anything wrong then he can quickly take a small sample of these cells to send off for analysis, or he may choose to refer you to a specialist.
It is unlikely that your dentist during dental chekups will find anything wrong, but an early diagnosis can make all the difference to the success of treatment.
