April is National Cancer Control Month, and you might not be aware of the fact that incidences of oral cancer are on the rise. Few people think about oral cancer, but it kills more people every year than brain cancer, cervical cancer, and testicular cancer put together. But the more you learn about oral cancer and its signs and symptoms, the better able you’ll be to get an early diagnosis and more effective treatment should oral cancer happen to you. Oral cancer responds very well to treatment in the earliest stages.

What are the risk factors for oral cancer?

The risk factors for oral cancer include smoking and chewing tobacco use, excessive alcohol consumption, and human papillomavirus (HPV), although some people develop oral cancer despite having none of these risk factors. It is believed that genetics, too, plays a role in the development of cancers, including oral cancer, as well as dietary factors. Because there are so many various contributing factors, everyone should get checked by their dentist for oral cancer at their dental checkups.

What are the symptoms of oral cancer?

The symptoms of oral cancer include:

• A flat, painless, white or red spot or sore.
• A sore that bleed easily or does not heal.
• A color change of the oral tissues.
• A lump, thickening, rough spot, crust, or small, eroded area.
• Pain, tenderness, or numbness anywhere in the mouth or on the lips.

It can be hard to see every spot in your mouth clearly, which is where your dentist comes in. He or she can take a look at any questionable areas and alert you if there’s a potential problem. Waiting until the symptoms become extremely obvious means wasting valuable treatment time that could save your life.

So why not make an appointment with your Waverley Dental Care for an exam during National Cancer Control Month? Set your mind at ease knowing that you’ve gone the extra mile for not only your oral health, but your overall health, too! Waverley Dental Care offers the most updated oral cancer detection device on the market in the Identafi Oral Cancer Screening unit. Please check out our website at www.waverleydental.com, and click the Technology tab for information. Also for further information, you can look at http://www.identafi.net

Stuffing, rolls, pies, cakes…the holidays are a time full of carbohydrate-rich, sugary foods. This can really do a number on your oral health, but there are some simple ways you can help combat cavities while still enjoying Grandma’s pumpkin pie (or pecan if that’s your preference!).

If you can, eat those carb-heavy foods such as stuffing and rolls with a balanced meal consisting of some protein. This helps to counteract some of the acids produced when sugars and bacteria in the mouth come together.

Limit your consumption of sticky foods. These foods take longer to chew, meaning they stay in the mouth longer and increase cavity risk.

Carry a travel toothbrush with you to your Thanksgiving meal destination, even if you’re just going for the day. Can’t brush your teeth immediately after eating for some reason? Rinse your mouth out with water to remove as much debris and acid as possible.

And try not to graze so much. It’s easy to spend the entire day walking around a party eating snacks, but every time you pop something into your mouth, it creates acids. Spend some time NOT eating on Thanksgiving day to cut down on the buildup of cavity-causing agents.

By following these simple holiday dental care tips, you can keep your teeth and gums healthy while still enjoying your Thanksgiving goodies. Happy holidays!

We know school’s back in session, and in addition to your already-full work schedule, you now have to plan meals, arrange car pools, sharpen pencils, and still find time for your sparkle-madness, hip-hop dance routine. Trust us, we know. But, as you can tell by the three (three!) exclamation points that follow the title of this article, we mean business. It’s time to bite the bullet, face the music, meet your maker… well not quite time for that… but seriously, flossing is serious.

If you choose not to floss, and we all know you do (studies show that 73% of Americans would rather go grocery shopping than floss – grocery shopping! FOR SHAME!), here’s what happens inside your mouth:

• Food debris piles up between your teeth – even if your teeth appear too close together for this to happen.
• Plaque – a biofilm that develops naturally on teeth – hardens between teeth. This can happen in just 24 hours, and after 10 days, plaque becomes rock-hard and can only be removed by a professional.
• The hardened plaque release toxins that eat away enamel and gum tissue.
• EAT AWAY ENAMEL AND GUM TISSUE
• Left to fester, the toxins create cavities and infections in your mouth.
• Bad breath takes over.
• Gum disease sets in.
• There is no cure for gum disease.

So why should you floss? Let’s recap. Flossing removes food debris and plaque, prevents cavities, prevents bad breath, prevents gum disease, prevents tooth loss, prevents bone loss, prevents all the complications associated with gum disease, including elevated risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, respiratory disease, osteoporosis, and dementia. Can flossing save your life? Believe it or not daily flossing can lengthen your lifespan by six years!

Not sure about how to floss? When you have your appointment at Waverley Dental Care, please ask us for demonstration. Don’t be embarrassed; it’s the kind of thing they dream about. You can also watch the video below, and share what you learn with your family members, friends, coworkers, neighbors, and random strangers you meet in elevators and while stopped at traffic lights. Studies show that bacteria from gum disease can spread through saliva, so also share what you’ve learned with the milkman (or milkwoman) and any other persons with whom you swap spittle.

Remember when people rode around in horse-drawn buggies and went to the barber for their teeth whitening needs? No? Yes, indeed, the barber once did your hair and your dental care. Sounds pretty convenient, right? Well, once you find out how it was done, you’ll be glad you go to the dentist for teeth whitening.

The Quest for Whiter Teeth Begins

The ancient Egyptians were known for their beautification techniques, and they certainly sought after whiter teeth. Around 4,000 years ago, they used a paste of wine vinegar and ground pumice stone to whiten their teeth. The mixture was brushed on with frayed sticks (yes, like very small tree branches). The whiter your teeth, the wealthier people thought you were.

If brushing your teeth with sticks doesn’t sound fun, at least the Egyptians had it better than the Romans. Ancient Romans used urine for teeth whitening. Luckily, people later discovered that it was the ammonia in urine that whitened the teeth, and that practice was abandoned.

And that brings us to the barbers. Before dentists, barbers took care of everyone’s oral health. There weren’t many dental remedies at the time, so barbers fixed most issues by pulling problem teeth. They also provided teeth whitening, using metal files on the teeth before applying nitric acid to wear away stains. Not only was this process incredibly uncomfortable, but it damaged the enamel, making teeth more susceptible to tooth decay.

The Dawn of Modern Teeth Whitening

Then, in the 1980s, dentists stumbled upon a new technique. They noticed that the hydrogen peroxide used to treat gums also caused teeth whitening. Trays and gels were developed specifically for teeth whitening, and now we don’t have to use sticks, ammonia, or metal files anymore. Perhaps that’s one of the reasons that teeth whitening is the most popular cosmetic dentistry procedure today. At Waverley Dental Care we offer a wide array of teeth whitening procedures, from one hour techniques, custom made trays, and pre-formed one size fits all trays.  Please give us a call, and we will be happy to give you a free whitening consult!

I had some family visiting over the last several weeks, and my 13 year old nephew was in the mood the play some hoops. So I decided to take him to our local court, and show him a thing or two.   While we were at the courts, he was telling me how his friends and him enjoy drinking Gatorade and other sports drinks, even if they’re not playing sports.

Why are we discussing cancer on a dental newsletter? Because dental health affects your overall health, and your smile is your dentist’s business. Oral Cancer is a little discussed cancer that is on the rise, despite the overall decline in cancer rates. Why? Awareness. Many people simply don’t talk about oral cancer. Your dentist wants to change that.

Every year, almost 30,000 Americans are diagnosed with oral cancer. Of these cases, 70% are discovered in the disease’s later stages. As many as one fourth of those diagnosed didn’t even participate in the risky behaviors commonly attributed to the disease, such a tobacco use or excessive alcohol consumption.

But did you also know oral cancer is highly curable if found early? This is why it’s so important for you to visit your dentist for routine checkups every six months.

Regular Visits Can Save Your Life

There’s never been a better time to call your dentist and schedule your next regular dental visit than National Cancer Control Month. Cancer screenings can be conducted quickly and easily, and are a part of your regular six-month checkup.

What is your dentist looking for? Common signs of oral cancer include:

• A flat, painless, white or red spot or sore.
• A sore that bleeds easily or does not heal.
• A color change of the oral tissues.
• A lump, thickening, rough spot, crust, or small, eroded area.
• Pain, tenderness, or numbness anywhere in the mouth or on the lips.

Though some symptoms may be easily identifiable as they progress, spotting early signs of oral cancer takes a well-trained eye.  We at Waverley Dental Care use advanced technology, from an Italian company called trimera. They make a special light called Identafi, which with various wavelengths, illuminates the tissue to check for changes in gum, cheek, and tongue tissue. You can check out their website at  www.trimira.net/identafi. Your dentist may use special light from ViziLite or  VELscope, which work in almost the same way.

Just think, at your routine office visit, your dentist might do more than fill cavities; he might save your life.

For more information on oral cancer, or to support life-saving research, visit The Oral Cancer Foundation.  Remember to follow your dentist’s advice on prevention and detection of oral cancer. If you see anything suspicious, please do not wait, and call us at Waverley Dental Care for a screening.