Category: Oral cancer

steps to reduce oral cancer risk dfw tx

What Are the Ways to Cut Your Oral Cancer Risk?

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Simple Steps Can Reduce Your Risk of Mouth Cancer

steps to reduce oral cancer risk dfw tx

Most of the cases of oral cancer can be prevented. Once you get oral cancer, it is often only discovered once it has already reached the advanced stages. This makes it all the more worthwhile to try and prevent it from occurring in the first place. The prevention of oral cancer is especially important if you already have a number of risk factors. 

 

The Statistics

The Oral Cancer Foundation states that almost 50,000 new cases of oral cancer will be discovered this year. In five years, only about half that many will still be alive. This is a higher death rate than for other types of cancer. This type of cancer was also usually only found in people who were 40 or older, but now more young people are developing it. 

The way that oral cancers are most frequently discovered is through a doctor or dentist feeling the lymph nodes in the neck and discovering that they are swollen. This means that cancer has already metastasized and is spreading. 

 

The Causes of Oral Cancer

The primary cause of many types of cancer, including oral cancer, is tobacco. This includes smoking and smokeless varieties. E-cig devices are also included, not for the tobacco, but because of the nicotine, which is a tobacco product. 

Smokeless tobacco is often sold as being healthier than cigarettes, cigars, or pipes. This may be true in the case of lung cancer, but the rise in mouth cancer cases, and other types of cancer, and periodontal disease, still declares plainly that it is not safe. There is also a possibility that it is linked to heart disease. 

Another cause of mouth cancer that is occurring more frequently is HPV. This STD in the mouth and throat is picked up by engaging in oral sex. Although HPV is not the actual cause, it does help to trigger the process that develops the mouth cancer. 

 

Oral Cancer Symptoms

It is possible that some of the oral cancer symptoms may be perceived to be something else. Some of them may even seem unrelated, but the things you want to look for include: 

  • Tongue pain
  • A sore throat
  • Difficulty chewing or swallowing
  • Pain the jaw or stiffness
  • A sore that bleeds or does not heal
  • Loose teeth or dentures that no longer fit right.

 

Mouth Cancer Prevention

Your risk of getting oral cancer can be reduced, although not totally eliminated. There is no absolute guarantee, but you can minimize it. You can work toward the prevention of oral cancer by doing several things: 

  • Quit smoking – This is the greatest risk. Those who smoke are most likely to get many types of cancer, including head and neck cancer, lung cancer, bladder cancer, and more. It also promotes periodontal disease. One in five deaths in the U.S. is caused by smoking. 
  • Reduce the alcohol – Alcohol is classified as a carcinogen. When drinking heavily, it is related to several types of cancer. Moderate drinking will reduce the risk, which is considered to be two drinks average per day for men, and one drink a day average for women. 
  • Eat healthy – Eating more fruits and vegetables, and fiber, along with less red meat, will strengthen your immune system to be able to help fight against cancer. 
  • Lose weight – Being overweight, or obese, helps promote cancer. Establish a regular exercise program, with at least 150 minutes per week, and you can reduce this risk factor. 
  • Spend less time in the sun – The sun’s rays can lead to lip cancer if they are exposed to them for long periods. Wear a hat, and reduce your time in the sun. 
  • Genetics – Some families have a gene that may make them more prone to developing oral cancer. While you cannot change the gene, you can be more watchful to try and catch it early. 
  • Human papillomavirus (HPV) – There are many forms of HPV, but one form in particular – HPV16 – is known to lead to the development of cancer. Your risk of an HPV caused oral cancer can be reduced by obtaining an HPV vaccination, and by limiting having oral sex with one person who is not having sex with other people. 

 

When to See a Dentist

Regular dental checkups can often lead to the discovery of oral cancer. The thing to look for is when one or more of the mouth cancer symptoms last more than two weeks. If you see these symptoms, make an appointment with your dentist for an oral cancer screening. During the checkup, the dentist will look for other possible causes. If a problem is discovered, a biopsy may need to be taken.

In addition to working on your own program for the prevention of oral cancer, you can get oral cancer screening from Champion Dental clinic, Farmers Branch, Texas by calling our office today at (214) 747-0763.

Are You a Candidate for oral Cancer dfw tx

How Likely Are You to Get Mouth (Oral) Cancer?

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Are You a Candidate for Cancer?

Are You a Candidate for oral Cancer dfw tx

Oral cancer, also called mouth cancer, affects many people every year – about 51,000 of them. Once discovered, it can be hard to treat. One thing that stands out about this type of cancer is that it is the most preventable form. While certain people do have a higher risk of mouth cancer than others, knowing the risks can greatly reduce the likelihood of getting this form of cancer. 

 

Oral Cancer Risk Factors

A risk factor does not at all mean that someone will get mouth cancer. It simply means that the individual has a greater likelihood of developing the disease.

Many of the causes of mouth cancer are options and part of the lifestyle that people choose to engage in. Two of the biggest risks are smoking and heavy drinking of alcohol. People who do both are 100 times more likely to get oral cancer than those who do not engage in either one. About 80 percent of people who get this cancer use tobacco in some form. 

Another major risk factor of this type of cancer is being out in direct sunlight for too many hours. Besides being in the outdoors, getting exposed to UV radiation at a tanning salon only increases the likelihood of developing a lip cancer. 

Genetics is also a cause for mouth cancer and throat cancer. People who have two specific genetic conditions: Fanconi anemia (a blood condition) and Dyskeratosis congenita have a very high risk of getting cancer in the oral cavity. 

Another factor is the human papillomavirus (HPV). This virus is the same one that causes cervical cancer in women. It can spread to the mouth through oral sex. While most of the time it does not cause a problem, a specific type of HPV (HPV16) is connected with cells growing out of control and causing cancer in the mouth and throat. This particular type of cancer has increased dramatically over the past 20 years. About 20 to 30 percent of cases of oral cancer are connected to HPV. 

Being a man is another risk factor. Men are twice as likely to get oral cancer as women. Women seem to have some degree of immunity to oral cancers – especially to HPV throat cancer. 

Other risk factors include a weakened immune system and poor nutrition. A disease called lichen planus is also a risk factor, and so is age; most people who get an oral cancer are over 55. 

 

Signs and Symptoms of Mouth Cancer

Some forms of mouth cancer have very few symptoms in the early stages. Sometimes an oral cancer is not noticed until it has already spread – usually to the lymph nodes. Symptoms that may be noticed include:

  • Pain when swallowing
  • A sore throat
  • A feeling that something is stuck in your throat
  • A painful tongue
  • Mouth ulcers that do not heal
  • Patches of red or white on your tongue
  • Teeth that have become loose without an obvious reason
  • Dentures that no longer fit right
  • A hoarse voice
  • A lump or thickening of the lining in your mouth.

Some oral cancers really do not cause symptoms until they have already spread. Currently, there is not any test that can be given to screen for it. They are often discovered when going for a routine dental checkup, when you have symptoms that need looking into, or when you see changes in your mouth. 

 

Diagnosis for Oral Cancers

Once a dentist detects what may be considered to be oral cancer, further examination is necessary. There are several tests that may be involved, which will likely start out with a blue dye called toluidine blue, or a laser, or possibly with a brush biopsy. Other tests may include an actual biopsy and scans.

There are several types of scans that may be used, depending on how far cancer has spread. If treatment with radiation or chemotherapy is to be used, other tests may be utilized to determine your general health beforehand. 

 

Oral Cancer Prognosis 

Several types of mouth cancer treatment will be given if and when cancer is discovered. After diagnosis, a treatment plan will be made. It will likely include one or more of the following: surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, targeted drug therapy, and then it will be succeeded by reconstructive surgery to rebuild your mouth and teeth. 

Oral cancer is staged to determine how far it has spread. When a diagnosis of a stage 1 cancer is discovered, there is an 83 percent chance of living beyond five years. 

 

Preventing Oral Cancer

Since oral cancers are often preventable, there are some simple steps you can take to reduce your risk of developing it. The steps include quitting tobacco completely – or greatly reducing it, eliminating drinking alcohol, staying out of the sun or using sunscreen to protect your lips, and avoiding junk food and processed meats. 

 

If you live in the Farmers branch TX areas, and you believe you may have mouth cancer symptoms, you can get an oral examination from Champion Dental clinic. For more information, or to set up an appointment, you can call our office today at (214) 747-0763

 

serious oral blisters affecting teeth dfw tx

Those Oral Blisters May Indicate Something Serious

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What causes blisters in the mouth?

serious oral blisters affecting teeth dfw tx

Oral blisters can come in several forms and types. Some of them are more serious than others. The appearance of blisters in the oral cavity often causes people to start asking what causes blisters in the mouth.  Generally, it should not raise an alarm, even though there may be pain with it unless there are also some other symptoms with it. 

 

Causes of Blisters

There are many possible causes as to why blisters may form on your tongue. One of the main reasons is that you bit into some food or drink that was too hot. Other causes include:

  • Mouth ulcers (canker sores).
  • Allergies.
  • A yeast infection (oral thrush).
  • Smoking excessively.
  • Stopped smoking – this can also sometimes result in mouth blisters. 
  • Irritation that enlarges tongue papillae (taste buds) – often the result of a bite or from food too hot to eat. Sometimes referred to as “lie bumps,” and are often caused by stress. A similar condition called eruptive lingual papillitis occurs in children and is usually contagious. It can take up to two weeks to be settled.
  • Medical conditions – leukoplakia, stomatitis, cancer, Crohn’s Disease, and Celiac Disease.
  • Food triggers – most common foods include cheese, coffee, wheat flour, tomatoes, peanuts, strawberries, and chocolate.
  • Vitamin deficiency – deficiencies of vitamin B-12 and iron can produce blister inside mouth.
  • Medications – various medications may cause oral blisters, including NSAIDs and Beta-blockers. If so, talk to your doctor about a different prescription. 

 

Lie Bumps

These small bumps on your tongue may be red or white bumps, often looking like blisters. Lie bumps are usually small and appear quickly and will usually disappear in several days. They may be painful. Some people feel a burning sensation, or a tingling or itching. 

 

Blood Blisters

The appearance of blood blisters in the mouth often has no cause. They can appear suddenly and many times there is no serious cause behind it. It can be caused by things such as stress, an allergy, dentures that do not fit right, braces, accidental biting of the lip, or scalding of the lip or cheek. Another condition may be angina bullosa hemorrhagica, which is generally harmless but it causes blood blisters to form in the mouth spontaneously. 

Blood blister in mouth may also be caused by more serious health problems. These include:

  • Oral cancer
  • Low platelet count
  • Diabetes
  • Deficiencies of vitamins
  • Renal failure
  • Oral herpes
  • Alcohol abuse. 

There are some situations where the appearance of blood blisters means you need to see a dentist. They include the following:

  • When blood blisters do not heal
  • When they become very large
  • When they frequently reoccur
  • When they are caused by poor-fitting braces or dentures.

 

Pemphigus Vulgaris

There are two Pemphigus disorders: pemphigus vulgaris and pempigus foliaceus. These two disorders are rare but are considered to be autoimmune diseases. The pemphigus vulgaris form starts out forming blisters in the mouth. From there it will cause sores and blisters on your mucous membranes and skin, particularly in the mouth and genital areas. There is no cure, but it can be managed. Early treatment is better.

 

Other Possible Causes

In addition to the previous causes, blisters on tongue, or blisters in mouth in general, may also be caused by other conditions. These include:

  • A sore throat
  • Various gastrointestinal diseases
  • Menstruation.

Some causes of blisters in mouth are contagious. When the blisters break open and the virus is released into your mouth, the following diseases can be spread to other people:

  • Chickenpox
  • Herpes (cold sores)
  • HIV/AIDS
  • Infectious mononucleosis
  • Syphilis
  • Hand, foot, and mouth disease

Each of these health conditions requires additional medical treatment. Seeing a doctor is necessary since some of these conditions are potentially fatal. 

 

Mouth Ulcers

Mouth ulcers, otherwise known as canker sores, are not really blisters, but they are small and may be mistaken for one. These sores have similar causes as the blisters, especially vitamin deficiency. They are not contagious but can be very painful, especially when eating spicy or acidic foods. They are normally about the size of a pencil but can grow up to an inch in diameter. Most canker sores will disappear within two weeks, but a larger one may take up to six weeks. More than one sore may appear at the same time. 

There is no cure, but treatment can help. Any mouth ulcer that lasts more than three weeks should be seen by a dentist because it could be a more serious problem. A canker sore could indicate the beginning of oral cancer. 

 

Mouth Blister Treatment

Mouth blisters need to be seen by a dentist if they do not heal within 10 days, especially when there are multiple other symptoms present simultaneously. With some diseases, the first indication of it is blisters, and sometimes it is the only one, which may be the only indication of a much more serious condition.

If suffering with blisters and looking for diagnosis or treatment , you can schedule a quick appointment at Champion Dental clinic, Farmers Branch, Texas – contact 214-747-0763

Getting the Most for Your Dollar at the Dentist's Office

How to Maximize Your Visit to Your Dentist?

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Getting the Most for Your Dollar at the Dentist’s Office

Getting the Most for Your Dollar at the Dentist's Office

Going to a dentist’s office is not something that people do very often. Since that probably includes you, it is important to ensure that you are going to make your dentist appointment as productive as possible. You want to be prepared before you go to get the most out of it. 

 

Write Down Your Questions and Needs

You are the one who is most aware of what has been going on with your teeth and gums. The dentist will be limited to what can actually be seen at the time of your dental visit – unless you remember to reveal other things or ask questions. 

The best way to remember your questions or problems is to write them down in advance of your visit to the dentist. Some things that you may want to include are if you have a tooth that has become sensitive to temperature or when you bite on it. 

Another thing that you will especially want to mention to your dentist is if you have any sores in your mouth that do not seem to go away. A sore that does not heal could be an indication of oral cancer. Dentists are trained to be able to identify it, and getting early treatment for it is very important.

If your gums have been bleeding when you brush your teeth or floss it should also be mentioned. This is an indication of early gum disease, and the dentist can advise you on how to treat it before it becomes worse. Other symptoms of gum disease include swollen gums, bad breath, pus appearing between your teeth and gums, loose teeth, and spaces appearing between your teeth. 

If you have been experiencing dry mouth recently, this should also be mentioned to the dentist. This is a problem the dentist is concerned about because it means that the amount of bad bacteria that harms your teeth has increased. It can be caused by various diseases and medications. When this occurs, the bacteria start producing an acid that slowly destroys the enamel on your teeth. Having a healthy amount of saliva helps keep the bad bacteria under control, and also helps to repair your teeth. 

 

Understand What Services the Dentist Provides

Most likely, you already understand some of the dental services you may need. Prior to making an appointment, make a list of things you want a dentist in your area to offer. Once your list is complete, call the dental office and ask your questions. 

Among the things you want to ask, there are some things you need to ask for sure. The topics you want to learn about include:

  • Do they accept your dental insurance?
  • If you do not have dental insurance, do they offer a flexible payment plan?
  • Do they handle emergency dental situations?
  • Do they provide dental services for children? Orthodontics – which options?
  • Can the dentist remove fillings made of mercury?
  • Do they offer tips for better oral health care?
  • If desired, do they offer sleep sedation dentistry?
  • What materials are available for fillings?
  • Do they offer cosmetic dentistry services?

Another thing that you may want to ask about is if the dentist office offers any of new high-tech forms of dentistry. This could include using a laser to detect cavities or drill them out, using ozone for sterilization, and thinner veneers that make removing tooth enamel unnecessary. 

 

Create a List of All Medications and Supplements You Are Taking Now

The dentist will need to know what medications and supplements you are taking at the time of your dental appointment. This is important because it can affect your treatment. If you are taking a blood thinner, for example, the dentist needs to know it because a dental procedure may involve excessive bleeding in that case.

 

Ask About Your Dental Cleaning Methods

When looking into your mouth, a dentist can quickly spot how well you are – or are not – cleaning your teeth. By asking the dentist to let you know what you can do to improve your teeth cleaning methods, you can help cut down on your overall annual dental costs.

 

Get a Referral

One of the best ways to choose a dentist is to get a referral from a friend, co-worker, or relative. You want to find one that offers the services you need, but is also friendly and answers your questions. A referral is especially good when you need to get the same type of dental services as the person who referred you. 

Our MyChampion Dental expert dentist team will gladly help you get the most out of your routine dental visit. For more information, or to set up an appointment, you can call our office today at (214) 747-0763.