Oral Cancer Screening: 5 Signs to Watch

Regular check-ups are a proactive approach to fight oral health problems. Most people associate cavities or gum disease as part of the screening process within routine dental visits. Oral cancer screenings are another important piece of a routine exam that is often less talked about. Like any other type of cancer, the earlier you catch it, the better.

A routine oral exam should consist of the dentist screening for cancer inside the mouth. There are several visual signs that a dentist is looking for during the exam. The signs and symptoms are not a sure sign that cancer is there, but like any other abnormality, it is better to question the symptom than ignore a potential problem. Identifying cancerous or pre-cancerous conditions does not involve any major procedure, but a dentist who makes them a part of regular check-up is a great place to start.

Dentists screen patients looking for 5 common symptoms of oral cancer. These symptoms are not absolute signs that cancer is present as many less severe problems can create the same condition. Oral cancer screening is a preventative measure to detect dangerous cells before they have a chance to spread.

5 common symptoms that may signify oral cancer:

1. Red, white or sores located anywhere inside the mouth.
2. A sore that bleeds easily and never seems to heal.
3. A lump, rough or thickened skin located within the oral cavity.

Some symptoms may not be caught visually but rather found as part of a discussion with the patient. Dentists who perform oral cancer screenings may notice sensitivities during their exam and then follow up their findings with a series of questions. Patient answers will help a dentist evaluate a concern level for the last two common symptoms.

4. When a patient mentions an occurrence of pain, tenderness or any kind of numbness found anywhere inside the mouth (including lips) a dentist must consider the possibility of oral cancer.
5. If a patient shares concerns with; chewing or swallowing difficulties, trouble speaking, or moving their jaw or tongue a dentist will take measures to rule out oral cancer.

Diablo Pacific Dental Group performs oral cancer screenings at every exam. A quick screening could save a life! If abnormalities are found, a simple brush test (collects cells from the area) would be the next screening step.  It is important for patients to understand the importance of discussing their oral health with the dentist at every check-up. It is much better to rule out the potential risk of cancer or pre-cancer and go about a healthy life than keeping it to yourself and allow cancerous cells to mature and spread.

Oral cancer screening is one more benefit to regular dental check-ups. If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms or simply need to get your teeth cleaned, take a moment and call our office today. We will schedule an appointment for a regular check-up. Dental exams not only target oral health concerns, but can also identify other medical conditions. Call your dentist today!

Limit Tooth Wear for a Strong Healthy Bite

Teeth are naturally strong. A routine cleaning regimen will help to maintain a healthy set of teeth. There are several threats against teeth that brushing will not protect teeth from. The good news is that there are several other strategies which can be used to guard teeth from accidental and normal wear and tear.

Accidental Tooth Wear

No one plans to ship, break or fracture a tooth. Significant injuries require immediate dental work. It is important to contact a dentist right away when emergency trauma has left a tooth damaged. It is important to think about proactive action to help prevent or limit potential damage.

·         - Limit biting on hard items (popcorn kernels, ice) especially on teeth with fillings or crowns.

·         - Wear mouth guards when playing sports.

             -  Get damaged teeth restored. The tooth will never be as strong as the original, but a restored tooth is much stronger than the weakened tooth without restorations.

Teeth grinding will wear down teeth

Teeth are designed to bite, chew and grind food.  Tooth wear concerns are for those people who do it unconsciously (during sleep). Bruxism (tooth grinding) can wear down the points of molars and cause micro-cracks in enamel. This action leaves the tooth more susceptible to dental caries (tooth decay) and breakage. In additions to tooth wear, grinding will also bring on headaches, muscle pain and injury. If the person is unaware of their grinding, the dentist will see signs of the damage during regular check-ups.

Preventative measures for teeth grinding:

·         - Regular dental check-ups to catch a problem in early stages

·         - Wear a mouth guard or splint when sleeping to minimize tooth wear

·         - Manage the stress and anger that may create tooth grinding and clenching problems

Tooth Wear from Acid and Erosion

Acid levels found inside the mouth are linked to enamel erosion. When the pH is out of balance, teeth are more susceptible to dental carries. The balance will shift when acidic foods and drinks are consumed and/or acidic-bacteria levels rise. Some diseases will also influence the erosion levels of teeth. People who are bulimic, pregnant women with long-term morning sickness, chronic gastritis (linked to alcoholism) or gastro esophageal re-flux disease (GERD).

Medical attention to help treat these diseases is the best course of action to limit the erosion side-affects. Doctors may prescribe medication or provide information regarding dietary changes in order to limit further damage to tooth enamel. It is also important to keep up with dental check-ups so the dentist can keep abreast of the effects the acid problems have on tooth enamel.

Dentists have been known to observe the signs of diseases by the dental side-affects. Dr. Patel will advise patients to make an appointment with their primary physician if oral health problems signal other health concerns.

Call Diablo Pacific Dental Group for more information or to schedule an appointment to stop excess tooth wear in its tracks.

Welcome to our Diablo Pacific Dental Group blog!

We're excited to announce the official launch of our Diablo Pacific Dental Group blog.

We'll be posting helpful dental tips, news from the dental industry, news from our practice, and more about the latest in dentistry.

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Here's to your best oral health ever!