Brushing your teeth is great, although unfortunately, it’s almost impossible to remove all the
plaque. Research shows that many people routinely miss certain areas of their teeth, and if
you’re not flossing or skip flossing regularly, you’re missing even more plaque. Built-up plaque
can turn into tartar over time.

Tartar is a hard substance that’s impossible to remove at home. Removing tartar and built-up
plaque regularly with professional teeth cleanings can help reduce your risk for cavities and
gum disease. Your dentist can talk with you about areas you’re missing during your visit to help
improve your brushing habits!

You May Be Predisposed to Oral Health Problems

Everything about us is the result of genes that we inherited from our parents. This is true for
tooth and gum health as well. You may be genetically predisposed to tooth decay and gum
disease, even if you brush and floss regularly. This is why it’s so important to visit your dentist
for cleanings. They can give you the extra help you need for preventative care when it comes to
your smile.

Some people also have a specific mouth structure that’s more difficult to clean than other
peoples’. This includes a smaller mouth with crowded or crooked teeth. These spaces are nearly
impossible to clean properly with home care, making a dentist visit every few months essential
to keeping plaque and tartar away.

Benefit from a Dental Exam

While you’re at the dentist getting your professional cleaning, your dentist can perform a
dental exam to assess your oral health. This includes an oral cancer screening, which should be
done annually starting at age 18, and other preventative measures. Your dentist can tell when a
cavity is in the works and together, you can put steps into place to prevent it.

Your dentist will also help you improve your home care habits to stop cavities and tooth decay.
Removing these bacteria regularly may help improve heart health by keeping bacteria out of
the bloodstream. Professional teeth cleanings also regularly remove surface stains on the teeth,
keeping your smile as bright as possible.

The verdict is in—cleaning your teeth daily is essential, but so are regular dentist visits with
professional teeth cleanings. This way, you have a 360 protection plan against harmful oral
diseases and cavities. To protect your teeth as much as possible, schedule a visit with your
dentist and keep up with your healthy brushing and flossing habits!

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Signs and Symptoms

It’s important to know the signs and symptoms of oral cancer so that you can visit your doctor or dentist if you notice any of the following:

– A sore in the mouth that doesn’t go away.

– Swelling or lumps inside the mouth (including lips or gums).

– White or red patches in the mouth.

– Bleeding from the mouth without a cause.

– Numbness or pain around mouth, face, or neck.

– Difficulty moving your jaw—this may include trouble swallowing, speaking, or chewing.

– Bad breath.

– Weight loss.

While mouth sores are the most common symptom, there are other symptoms you should know, including a change in voice, sore throat, or ear pain. This is why it’s always important to visit your doctor if you have any signs or symptoms!

Risk Factors

You can decrease your risk of getting oral cancer by adjusting your lifestyle. The biggest influential risk factors including smoking or using tobacco products, but did you know that frequent drinkers of alcohol increase their risk of oral cancer by more than six times? The risk increases if you smoke along with drink alcohol frequently. Men are also twice as likely as women to get oral cancer.

Risk factors also include having a family history of cancer or oral cancer, extreme sun exposure, and even human papilloma virus (HPV) may increase your risk for certain cancers. It’s also important to eat well: a diet with plenty of fresh vegetables and fruits as opposed to one heavy in meat and processed foods could help prevent cancer!

What Can You Do?

Be knowledgeable about oral cancer. Know what the signs and symptoms are so that you can recognize them if they happen to you and visit your doctor or dentist. If oral cancer is suspected, a biopsy will be taken. Regular checkups with your dentist can help to ensure your mouth is healthy, and always talk with your dentist about any symptoms you’re experiencing. You can also manage any risk factors you have that could lead to oral cancer, such as using tobacco products, drinking alcohol often, or exposure to the sun.

Taking the best care of yourself includes knowing what to look out for when it comes to certain diseases, including oral cancer. Over 25% of people who get oral cancer don’t smoke and drink infrequently. Know the signs and symptoms. Manage your risk factors. Visit your dentist regularly. Treatment for oral cancer is most successful when it’s detected early and can save your life!

The post Oral Cancer: Signs, Symptoms, and What You Should Know appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

An oral cancer screening is done in a dentist’s office, usually during a regular appointment. The dentist examines your mouth visually, and while wearing gloves, feels inside your mouth for lumps or other abnormalities. If you wear dentures or other removable dental appliances you will be asked to remove them for the exam. Other tests for oral cancer include a dye test in which you rinse your mouth with a dye which may cause abnormal cells in your mouth to turn blue. Another test involves a light that is shined in your mouth and shows abnormal tissue as white.

Abnormalities discovered in a screening may not be cancerous. If any abnormalities are found, you will have to undergo additional testing. Usually a follow up screening is performed a few weeks later to see if the abnormality is still present. A biopsy, which removes a sample of the cells and tests them, can determine if the cells are cancerous or benign.

Oral cancer screening can detect cancer or precancer, but some oral cancer can escape detection by a screening exam. There is no evidence that oral cancer screening saves lives, but it may lead to early detection of oral cancer and increase the chances of survival.

If you would like to learn more about oral cancer, its risk factors and oral cancer screening, call for an appointment. The decision to have oral cancer screening can only be made by careful consideration by you and the dentist.

The post Oral Cancer Screenings: What You Need to Know appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.