Posts tagged “oral cancer”

The importance of attending oral cancer screenings at City of London Dentists

November 18th, 2011

When thinking about cancer many forget about the dangers of oral cancer and even more forget that your dentist should be the first stop to diagnosis the disease.

Oral cancer usually starts off in the mouth as a small spot or sore, which are commonly white or red and can be located in any part of the mouth. If untreated, these sores can affect any area of your mouth, including your gum tissues, tongue, palate, lips and lining of the cheeks. Oral cancer also occurs more regularly in people who smoke and if you combine this with the consumption of alcohol you greatly increase your risk of developing the disease. Signs of oral cancer may include: colour changes in your oral tissue, difficulty with chewing, speaking, swallowing or moving your jaw and tongue, sores in the mouth that easily bleed and do not heal, lumps or thickening rough spots, small eroded areas in the mouth and pain, tenderness or numbness on the lips and inside of the mouth.

By visiting your dentist more regularly you can significantly decrease your chances of suffering with oral cancer, as oral cancer screenings are part of your routine dental examination. It is therefore important that you have regular full mouth check-ups, so your dentist can detect the early stage of cancer and treat it.  Some spots or sores located in the mouth may not be cancer, but it is always best to check just in case and your dentist will perform a brush test to ensure the sore or spot is not dangerous. If anything is found to be wrong with the sore then it will be removed in a separate procedure, but it is important to know that positive results from the brush test will be confirmed first by incisional biopsy and histology.

Remember it is important to visit your dentist for an oral cancer check-up, as on average only half of those diagnosed with oral cancer will survive past five years. However, oral cancer is one of the most treatable forms of cancer if found at an early stage.

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An exciting development for cancer specialists

July 1st, 2011

A breakthrough has emerged in Canada that could help many people who discover that they have oral cancer.

What’s been invented?

Through the use of a Canadian-developed Fluorescence Visualisation (FV), or “blue light”, cancerous tissue in the mouth can be identified and then removed by highly trained professionals. The traditional white light in use makes this task virtually impossible, but “blue light” technology can identify these deadly areas of the mouth due to healthy tissue projecting fluorescence whilst cancerous and pre-cancerous cells turn dark.

Tell me more

Having been developed at the British Columbia Cancer Agency, subsequent small-scale research projects have been known to correctly identify cancer in patients which they were previously unaware of. In a new trial, which is planned to be spread over Canada, four hundred patients will undergo the “blue light” over the course of five years. It is hoped that successful diagnosis of this form of cancer will increase and have a positive impact.

Dr. Karen Kost, who was one of the investigators in the study, said “the beauty of the FV or ‘blue light’ is that it is an incredibly simple concept: it is not invasive or painful, and the technology is relatively easy to use.”

It is reported that in Canada each year 3,400 people are diagnosed as having oral cancer, and in 2010 around 1,150 people died because of it. One of the main reasons behind why it is so deadly is because it can quickly spread to other nearby areas that are harder to treat.

Study investigator Dr. Miriam Rosin, who is a senior scientist at the British Columbia Cancer Agency, commented on the potential of FV: “This study will have an immediate impact on practice if the study turns out the way we hope … If the study is successful, it will help to reduce the number of deaths from oral cancer as well as to improve the quality of life for people living with this disease.”

The full potential is yet to be unlocked

Another feat for mankind, whether this will help people on a worldwide scale is yet to be seen but the initial foundations have been well and truly laid.

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Oral health is a must no matter how old you are

May 23rd, 2011

As a senior citizen you have every right to receive an impeccable standard of professional dental healthcare. After all, your mouth and teeth are a prized possession. They have served you during years of eating, drinking and celebrating, helped you speak and sculpt the smile and personality everybody knows and loves you for. They deserve your time and attention.

According to a survey carried out by Help the Aged, more than a third of over 75’s fail to have a regular dental check-up, a disconcerting discovery given that the elderly are more at risk of developing mouth cancer, diabetes and high blood pressure as a result of poor oral hygiene.

Although most people now regularly brush their teeth with fluoride toothpaste, simply brushing your teeth twice a day is not enough to sustain adequate oral health. Read on to discover how to maintain the dental health care you truly deserve.

Why senior dental health is a problem

Senior dental health is an issue in Great Britain for several reasons. Firstly, more and more elderly people are now retaining their own teeth which can lead to the development of gum diseases that can in turn lead to cardiovascular disease, diabetes and oral cancer. Secondly, we are more likely to develop dental problems as we get older and oral cancer mainly occurs in people over 40. Thirdly, a lack of mobility means that fewer senior citizens are attending their regular six monthly check-up with their dentist.

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The effects of smoking on your health and well-being

March 25th, 2011

The negative effects (to put it lightly!) of smoking are common knowledge nowadays and recently passed laws, such as the smoking ban in public buildings, has attempted to reduce the risk of secondary smoke to non smokers. But what are the most common effects of smoking, and how many of them are permanent?

Cancer

Cancer is one of the first things most people think of on the subject of diseases caused by smoking. The list of cancers that smokers put themselves at risk of may be scarily longer than one would first thin, including lung, throat, stomach, bladder, kidney, mouth, cervix and pancreas cancer. Smokers are also much more likely to get cancer compared to non smokers too, up to seven times more likely according to some studies.

Secondary are also largely at risk from contracting some form of cancer from inhaling other people’s smoke and it is reported that 4,000 people were diagnosed with lung cancer caused by secondary smoking in the US alone.

Heart diseases

Multiple heart diseases are risked by smokers, and the chances of falling prey to a heart attack or a stroke are greatly increased by smoking. Heightened blood pressure and the hardening and thickening of artery walls – which decreases blood flow and can even cause blood clots, which are primary causes of heart attacks – are also problems linked to smoking.

The thickening of artery walls can wear off with time once you have given up smoking, and the likelihood of having a heart attack can be reduced with it. For the effects to fully wear off, it can however take a prolonged period of time, in some cases a number of years.

Lung diseases

The primary problem for the lungs to do with smoking is issues with breathing, shortness of breath and long coughing attacks which can be caused by the carbon monoxide in cigarettes. Luckily, the lungs are much more proficient at cleaning themselves than the heart and you may begin to feel a difference in breathing patterns and stamina within just a few days of your last cigarette.

Available help

With public awareness on the health issues of smoking so high, there are many places to turn for help with quitting including the NHS who do free Quit Smoking packs.

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London City dentists offer early diagnoses for oral cancer

January 17th, 2011

Avoid oral cancer with regular visits to London City dentists

Your dentist is trained to thoroughly examine your mouth for signs of tooth decay and gum disease.  They will be looking out for any sign of excessive plaque which can damage your teeth.  What many people don’t know is that dentists are also trained to spot early signs of oral cancer.  This nasty condition has a fairly high survival rate but it must be caught early in order for it to be treated effectively, just one more reason to visit your dentist regularly.

Those who smoke or regularly drink alcohol to excess are at a higher risk of contracting oral cancer and the disease is more prevalent in men than women.  But even if you are not from one of these high risk categories it is worth being vigilant about it so that you don’t fall ill.

Your dentist will be on the look out for rusty red patches on your gums and the soft tissue of your mouth.  You too can be mindful of these signs when you are at home and brushing your teeth is an ideal time to look for these patches.  If you experience sudden weight loss or have odd tastes in your mouth, sometimes of the metallic variety, then you should report to your dentist.

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Be sure to pursue a healthy, balanced diet, take steps to quit smoking, cut down on drinking and you are lessening your chances of contracting oral cancer.  Oral hygiene too plays a very important part and you should get in the habit if brushing twice a day for about three minutes and floss as well.  Most important of all is that you visit your London City dentist for regular check ups at which he or she can look out for early signs of oral cancer.

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Oral cancer diagnosed early by Liverpool Street London dentists

October 25th, 2010

Liverpool Street London dentists fully trained to spot early signs of oral cancer

Dentists are not only trained to spot and diagnose problems with your teeth and gums such as tooth decay and gum disease, they are also fully trained to notice the early indicators of oral cancer.  This cancer is treatable if found in its initial stages and has a high survival rate but can be fatal.  Oral cancer is another reason why you should be sure to visit your dentist every six months.

You are at higher risk of contracting oral cancer if you are a man as they are twice as likely to develop the disease as women.  Other high risk groups include those who smoke tobacco and drink alcohol but about one in every four oral cancer patients are either women or people who don’t smoke or drink.  Even if you are not in a high risk group you should still be vigilant for oral cancer.

If you find small swellings in your mouth or patches that are rusty then you should report this to your dentist.  Any bleeding from the mouth might be an early sign of oral cancer and these symptoms are sometimes accompanied by sudden weight loss or difficulty and pain in the mouth while eating.

Your dentist is best placed to examine your mouth for signs of oral cancer at your six month check ups but you can use your finger to examine your mouth at home for swellings and look in the mirror for discoloured patches.

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Ask your Liverpool Street London dentist for more information about how to guard against oral cancer, such as ceasing smoking tobacco, cutting down alcohol consumption and keeping your diet healthy.

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Dental check ups with London dentists ensure good oral hygiene

October 18th, 2010

London dentists offer dental check ups to maintain good oral health

It is vital that you maintain a routine of regularly visiting your dentist.  If you don’t allow a specialist to examine your mouth, any problems you might have could get worse.  Having a healthy mouth is important not only for eating, drinking and talking but gives you confidence if it means you can smile with pride at social occasions.

Having check ups with your dentist are best complimented by a good home oral hygiene regime.  Simply brush your teeth twice a day for about three minutes and ensure that you floss too.  You should visit your dentist every six months as well so that your mouth can be assessed for its health.  Shockingly, about nine in ten of us will experience gum disease at some point in our lives.  It is a condition that is easily treatable but it is very important that your dentist can is allowed to examine you to spot the early signs.

Your dentist will examine your whole mouth thoroughly to look for signs of gum disease, tooth decay, excessive plaque, tartar and even oral cancer.  All of these problems can be dealt with only if the symptoms are spotted early.  You should of course be vigilant at home but it is best to let a professional look too.

If you feel anxious about seeing your dentist, for whatever reason, you should be aware that dental practice has changed a lot.  A good dentist will be concerned with keeping you relaxed and be an excellent communicator.  If you do not feel comfortable with your dentist then you should look for another one.

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Start getting into the routine of making an appointment to see your London dentist every six months.  This will significantly lessen your chances of having to undergo invasive surgery if a condition is allowed to progress.

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