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Oral cancer is a serious disease that affects many people across the globe, particularly cigarette smokers and people with a family history of cancer. Though there is a genetic factor involved, there are several things you can do to prevent the development of oral cancer, which we will outline in this blog post. Continue reading to find out, and be sure to contact our team at Trillium Dental in Ottawa if anything feels abnormal in your mouth or throat. We gladly perform oral cancer screenings as part of our dental exams.

QUIT SMOKING (OR DON’T START)

Tobacco is one of the largest causes of oral cancer, esophageal cancer, and other cancers of the head, throat, and neck — not to mention lung cancer. This is because today’s tobacco products, such as cigarettes, chewing tobacco, and vape juice, contain carcinogenic chemicals that are linked to the growth of cancer cells. Specifically, these chemicals can cause grayish-white mouth ulcers to develop, which are called leukoplakia.

If left undiagnosed and untreated, these ulcers and mouth sores can become cancerous, requiring oral surgery and/or radiation to remove. And that’s not to say that it won’t come back. That being said, one of the easiest ways to prevent oral cancer from developing is to stay away from tobacco products — yes, even those “harmless” vapes.

Read More: Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP)

DRINK RESPONSIBLY

Alcohol is another major contributor to oral cancer, as well as esophageal cancer, throat cancer, breast cancer, colon cancer, liver cancer, and the list goes on. However, your risk of developing cancer as a direct cause of alcohol consumption depends on how much, and how frequently, you drink. Scientifically speaking, alcohol alters the body’s chemistry over time, impairing the body from being able to defend itself against the spread of cancer cells.

To avoid developing cancer, not to mention an addiction, our dentists recommend having less than three drinks per day, if any at all. Overexposure to alcoholic beverages can take a toll on the tissues in your mouth, throat, stomach, and other vital organs, rendering them diseased and defenseless. As with tobacco, it’s best to quit binge drinking and limit yourself to the occasional drink if you’re looking to minimize your risk of oral cancer.

GET AN HPV VACCINATION

Other diseases, like human papillomavirus (HPV), can increase your chances of developing oral cancer — particularly oropharyngeal cancers. HPV is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases, and many people have it in their mouth without even being aware of it. There is no cure for HPV; however, you may be able to avoid contracting it by getting vaccinated before you become sexually active. Most doctors recommend getting vaccinated between the ages of 11 and their mid-20s.

MAKE REGULAR TRIPS TO YOUR LOCAL DENTAL CLINIC

Prevention is the key to avoiding serious diseases like oral cancer and periodontal disease, which are life-threatening health conditions that can in part be prevented with good oral hygiene and regular trips to your family dental clinic. At Trillium Dental in Ottawa, we recommend that patients brush their teeth twice per day and floss daily, in addition to visiting our dental office twice per year for dental checkups. Contact us today to book your next appointment!

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Most people know that smoking cigarettes and chewing tobacco is bad for their oral health, but many do so anyway. Perhaps it is because they wanted to look cool in front of their teenage friends and formed an addiction over the years, or maybe it’s because they find comfort in the act of smoking with a nice, warm cup of Joe. While we’re not here to judge, we do have some bad news for smokers: tobacco use is one of the biggest causes of many serious oral infections and diseases.

At Trillium Dental, we care about our patients’ oral health and do everything in our power to ensure that they are maintaining good oral hygiene habits between teeth cleanings at our Ottawa dental clinic. Our job is to ensure that you are receiving the best dental care possible, even if that means reminding you to use dental floss more often or to quit smoking. That being said, here are a few ways smoking cigarettes negatively affects your oral health.

INCREASED RISK OF PERIODONTAL DISEASE

One of the most significant impacts smoking has on your oral health is that it causes an increase in plaque and tartar buildup along the gumline, which eats away at the tooth enamel. Your gums need a smooth, clean surface to attach themselves to — otherwise, they can recede and become infected. Smoking and chewing tobacco accelerate the process of the tooth enamel breaking down, as the carcinogenic chemicals in these products aggressively attack the teeth and surrounding oral tissue. It is believed that these chemicals also interfere with the ability of gum tissue to function and protect the roots of the teeth, leaving them prone to infections like gingivitis, also known as early-stage gum disease.

Though the symptoms of gum disease are not always apparent at first, they will progress over time to include gum recession and puffiness, gum and tooth sensitivity, persistent jaw pain, and loose or missing teeth due to tooth decay and a deteriorating jawbone. There are many health risks associated with gum disease, and not all of them have to do with the oral cavity. In fact, periodontitis is also linked to serious health conditions like coronary heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, and pancreatic cancer, as this infection can enter the bloodstream via swollen or bleeding gums and attack vital organs throughout the body. And, you guessed it — much of this can be avoided if you quit smoking and take good care of your teeth.

INCREASED RISK OF ORAL CANCER

Another common dental problem caused by cigarettes and chewing tobacco is an increased risk of oral cancer, which is a major cause for concern among dental patients who smoke. This, again, is largely due to the carcinogens in these addictive products, which can cause cancers of the mouth, throat, sinuses, and lungs, as well as pancreatic cancer, liver cancer, and countless other life-threatening diseases. The lungs and oral cavity are especially susceptible to developing cancerous cells, as they have the most direct contact with the carcinogenic particles when the smoke or tobacco juice rests on the teeth, gums, cheeks, throat, and lungs.

Because of this, it is not uncommon for chain smokers or long-time smokers and tobacco chewers to notice red and white patches (leukoplakia) cropping up on the inside of their mouths. Though this is not always an indicator of oral cancer (sometimes these are cold sores or canker sores), red and white mouth sores, lumps, patches, and mouth ulcers are all symptoms of a serious oral health problem. Of course, oral cancer is fairly easy to avoid if you are not genetically predisposed to the condition and do not use tobacco products. Fortunately, our dentists and dental hygienists include oral cancer screenings as part of our routine dental exams, so we may be able to catch the early signs before it progresses into a more serious problem. If we do notice signs of oral cancer during your dental cleaning, we’ll point you in the right direction for treatment.

SCHEDULE A DENTAL EXAM IN OTTAWA AT TRILLIUM DENTAL

At Trillium Dental in Ottawa, we work to ensure that each of our patients receives the best dental care possible through routine teeth cleanings and additional dental treatments when necessary. For smokers who have developed gingivitis or periodontitis, we offer a number of gum disease treatments, including root planing (tartar removal), gingival grafts, gingivectomies, and crown lengthening procedures.

In addition to periodontics, we also perform oral cancer screenings and restorative dentistry treatments, such as dental implants, dental crowns, and dental bridges, which aim to replace decayed or missing teeth. Whatever the case may be, our dentists are prepared to treat any patient who is suffering from the consequences of smoking on their oral health, even if that means referring them to an oral surgeon or an oral cancer specialist who can provide the appropriate treatment. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you are concerned about your oral health, or feel free to make an appointment with us online.

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As family dentists, we understand that oral cancer screenings and cancers of the mouth might sound scary to some, which is why we’re breaking it all down in this blog post. As it turns out, oral cancer screenings are nothing more than a simple inspection of your mouth, tongue, and gums for any indication of oral cancer. This is included in your general dentistry check up as a proactive measure to ensure that no signs or symptoms or oral cancer are going unnoticed or untreated.

At Trillium Dental in Ottawa, we provide each and every one of our patients with comprehensive dental care, from routine teeth cleanings to cosmetic, restorative, and sedation dentistry procedures. For us, this means taking all the preventative measures we can to reduce your risk of developing oral health problems like gum disease, cavities, jawbone deterioration, and oral cancer. That being said, here is what you need to know about the signs and symptoms of oral cancer.

ORAL CANCER IS DISCREET AT FIRST

The troubling thing about oral cancer is that it can develop without causing the person any pain or discomfort, meaning that it can go unnoticed for quite some time. Given that oral cancer takes the form of small white or red patches, it can be misconstrued as cold sores or canker sores, leading some people to believe that it will eventually go away on its own. Experienced dentists and dental hygienists will be able to identify these patches as oral cancer, so it is incredibly important to schedule regular appointments at your local dental clinic where they can inspect your mouth for signs of the disease.

SYMPTOMS OF ORAL CANCER

Once oral cancer progresses, the signs and symptoms will become more clear. Indications of oral cancer include:

• Patches — One of the first signs of oral cancer is the emergence of small white and red patches along the inside of the mouth. These patches can form anywhere in the oral cavity, but the most common areas are the inside of the lips, the cheek tissue, the front of the tongue, the floor and roof of the mouth, the tonsils, and along the gumline.
• Mouth sores — Once oral cancer starts to form, it can develop into visible mouth sores that sting to the touch (also known as mouth ulcers).
• Swelling — Unlike the kind of swelling that happens when you bite your cheek or tongue, swelling from oral cancer can last for weeks or even months.
• Lumps — Sometimes, oral cancer takes the form of lumps in the oral tissue or thickened lining of the mouth.
• Loose teeth — Given that oral cancer attacks the mouth and surrounding structures, the gumline can become weak, causing teeth to become loose or fall out in more advanced stages.
• Pain — Victims of oral cancer will experience painful chewing, tongue and jaw pain, a sore throat, discomfort when swallowing, and persistent pain in the back of the neck or ears.

CAUSES AND RISK FACTORS

As with other types of cancer, everyone is at a different risk of developing oral cancer. While some genetic factors and syndromes are at play, the oral disease is highly linked to specific genders and ages, as well as lifestyle choices. Some of the factors that put people at a higher risk of developing oral cancer are:

• Being a man — Unfortunately, men are twice as likely as women to develop oral cancer, according to WebMD, the American Cancer Society, and other medical sources. While the reason for this is still being debated, it is believed that as a group, men are more likely to consume tobacco and alcohol.
• Age — According to Cancer Treatment Centers Of America®, the average age of patients diagnosed with oral cancer is 62, and about two-thirds of this population is over the age of 55.
• Tobacco use — Given that modern tobacco products such as cigarettes and chewing tobacco are filled with carcinogens, they are a major risk factor that leads to oral cancer. In fact, nearly 80 percent of people with oral cancers consume tobacco or have done so significantly in the past.
• Alcohol consumption — Alcohol is another major risk factor linked to oral cancer, as nearly 70 percent of people with the disease have a history of binge-drinking.
• Genetics — Oral cancer shares a lot of similarities with other cancer types, including the fact that the genetic mutations that cause it can be passed down to future generations, as well as related health conditions that have strong links to oral cancer such as fanconi anemia and dyskeratosis congenita.
• HPV — Human papillomavirus (HPV) can lead to many different forms of cancer, including those of the mouth, throat, and genitals.

VISIT TRILLIUM DENTAL FOR A DENTAL CHECK UP AND ORAL CANCER SCREENING

If you have noticed any of the symptoms of oral cancer mentioned in this blog post or are concerned about the factors that put you at risk of developing the disease, contact our dentists at Trillium Dental. We would be happy to provide you with a general dentistry check up and oral cancer screening to discuss your dental health.

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