Let’s Talk About Oral Cancer

Avoiding the potentially devastating effects of this type of cancer.

Most of our blogs focus on dental problems and the solutions that we offer at our Chelmsford practice to correct them. Even the loss of a number of teeth, however traumatic that might be, can be restored using dentures or dental implants. Today though, we are going to look at a problem that we can help you to avoid, albeit one for which we cannot provide treatment directly – it usually needs a hospital specialist. The good news is that this condition, oral cancer, is largely avoidable and we recommend that you follow the advice in this blog to give you every chance of doing just that.

Oral cancer can be a killer and even when it isn’t, it can cause significant problems and potentially facial disfigurement too. One thing is for sure though, you certainly shouldn’t ignore the problem and presume that, whatever you do, it won’t happen to you. Certain factors could contribute to it actually doing so.

Let us take a look then at some of the potentially contributory factors to mouth cancer and how we can help you.

Weakened immune system

If you have a compromised immune system, you are at an increased risk of many illnesses and diseases and you should definitely beware of the following risk factors as well as following your GP’s general advice on looking after yourself. We always discuss any health issues that you might have with you at your appointments so that we can adjust any treatment or care that we provide. With a compromised immune system for example, we might suggest more frequent check up appointments at Blue Sky Dental so that we can monitor your oral health more closely.

Smoking

One of the biggest risk factors for oral cancer is if you smoke. Smoking increases the risk of many health issues but as the smoke lingers in the oral cavity and the back of the throat, it shouldn’t really come as a surprise that it is especially linked with cancer of the mouth. The chemicals in cigarette smoke are likely to play a part in this as is the fact that bacteria in the mouth tends to increase in a drier mouth; something many smokers suffer from.

If you use chewing tobacco or tobacco pouches; even though this may not create smoke, you are still at a high risk and any tobacco product should be avoided.

Some of you might be curious about whether this applies to vaping. The fact is that research is still in its relatively early stages so it is impossible to say for sure, but it seems likely that there may be a higher risk if you do vape than if you don’t.

Alcohol

The odd beer or glass of wine shouldn’t do you any harm, but heavy or regular consumption of alcohol can harm the soft tissue of the mouth and increase the risk of problems such as oral cancers. A dry mouth is, again, more likely if you drink alcohol than if you don’t. Moderation is key here and do make sure to drink water as well to help you stay well hydrated.

HPV

The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is of increasing concern, especially perhaps, for the younger generation. HPV16 is an especially problematic variant. This virus is passed by oral contact and especially through oral sex. If you are a younger person who is entering this phase of your life, please do seek further advice on how to prevent this. Vaccinations are likely to be available and you should follow your GP’s advice on this.

Can we help?

We can’t treat oral cancer, that is the role of a specialist. What we can do though, other than offer advice such as that above, is to monitor your oral health during your Chelmsford dental check ups. For most people, this will be a six monthly check and we will examine not only your teeth and gums but also the soft tissues of the oral cavity. This includes the tongue, lips and cheeks. If we find anything which might be a cause for concern such as lumps or soreness etc, we may recommend that you contact your GP for further investigation. If we do this, please don’t panic. There is every likelihood that there is a logical explanation and no cause for concern. It is always best to have it checked out though. If cancer is found, the outcome for treatment is much better if it is detected and any treatment started earlier.

If you have missed check up appointments or would like to register with us, you can be sure that you are in good hands. It is always best to get back on track with regular oral health checks as soon as you can. To make an appointment to see the dentist at Blue Sky Dental by calling us on  01245 211070.