Oral Cancer Awareness Month: The Importance of Screening & Early Detection

April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month, which represents an opportunity for dental professionals to raise awareness about early detection and treatment for their patients.  According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, although an estimated 54,000 new cases of oral cancer will be diagnosed this year, “Regular oral cancer examinations performed by your oral health professional remain the best method for detecting oral cancer in its early stages.”  At Falmouth Dental Arts, we’ve had a long-standing commitment to oral cancer screening for our patients.  However, you may have some questions about oral cancer or how Dr. Brunacini, Dr. Karagiorgos, and the hygienists perform screenings during your appointment.  We recently posted a video on our Facebook page, and wanted to provide some more basic information about oral cancer and our screening procedures.

Some of the risk factors for oral cancer include:

  • Being over the age of 40.
  • Tobacco use – heavy cigarette use (especially over the age of 50) has been linked to a higher incidence of oral cancer.
  • Alcohol use – heavy drinkers of alcohol are more likely to develop oral cancer than nondrinkers.
  • Sun exposure – lip cancers are associated with excessive sun exposure and a failure to use sunscreen. 
  • Human Papillomavirus (HPV) – although HPV is an extremely common virus that will usually clear on its own, a small percentage of those with HPV will go on to develop oral cancers. Men are more likely than women to develop oral cancer as a result of HPV. A vaccine is available (up to age 45), which prevents many strains of HPV, including those which increase the risk for oral cancers.  

Warning Signs of Oral Cancer

Patients should let us know if they see any white patches in the mouth or gums or increased bleeding, as these can sometimes be signs of oral cancer. A good rule of thumb is, if you notice any recent changes to your mouth, teeth or gums, or experience any pain or tenderness, it is always a good idea to let us know. There is no such thing as a silly question!

Screening and Early Detection

Oral cancer screening is an important step in identifying cancer as soon as possible. When treated early, oral cancer has an estimated 80-90% survival rate. Regular dental care is a first line of defense against oral cancer. As your dental care partners, we are an essential part of your healthcare team, and see many of our patients at least twice a year!

What to Expect from Your Oral Cancer Screening

We screen our patients for oral cancer at every hygiene appointment. Our screening methods typically include a simple visual exam of the soft tissues of the mouth. We will examine the gum tissue, lips, cheeks, and tongue. We will also palpate (gently press on) areas of the face and neck to check for any nodules or lumps. If there is an area of concern, we may offer to do a VELscope screening. VELscope is a safe, non-invasive early detection screening device that emits a blue light that quickly allows our clinicians to identify abnormal cells before they are visible to the naked eye. The graphic below demonstrates the difference between healthy cells (Normal Epithelial Cells) and abnormal cells (Abnormal or Dysplastic Epithelial Cells), that become visible under the Blue Excitation Light.


If we have any reason for concern based on our visual exam and screening, the next step would be a referral to an oral surgeon for additional consultation. An oral surgeon may decide to perform a biopsy of the area for further evaluation. Most of the time, a biopsy will rule out oral cancer. However, if the biopsy is positive for precancerous or cancerous cells, additional treatment may be necessary. Throughout the evaluation and referral process, we will remain involved every step of the way to provide support and follow-up care. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us, as we’re here to help!

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Earth Day, Every Day! 3 Ways to Make Your Oral Health Routine More Eco-Friendly

Image courtesy of www.seattlemag.com

Earth Day is a good reminder for us to be mindful of the ways our habits impact the environment…even our healthy habits. At FDA, we make an effort to go green when we can and know many of our patients are making the same effort.  There are steps we can all take to improve our environmental footprint as we improve our oral health.  Here are 3 ways you can make your oral health routine more eco-friendly:

Turn off the Water While You Brush.

This tip is an oldie but a goodie – turn off the tap while brushing your teeth.  This simple act can save up to 8 gallons every day and over 200 gallons a month!  Not only will you be conserving water and helping the planet, but you’ll also be saving money on your water bills.  Turn off that tap!

Explore Green Floss Alternatives.

We talk about it constantly – dental floss is an important component in your oral health care routine.  Flossing once a day helps prevent gum disease and cavities.  It truly is one of the best things you can do for your oral health, but it’s not necessarily one of the best things for the planet.  Most dental floss is made out of nylon and comes in plastic containers, which all end up in the landfill, or worse, the ocean.  There are sustainable alternatives, however.  Look for silk dental floss or consider a Water Flosser.  Here is a resource for exploring some eco-friendly alternatives.  Take care of your gums while you reduce the amount of waste in your dental routine!

Make Your Own Toothpaste.

DIY toothpaste?  Yes!  We’ve posted recipes on our blog before and in honor of Earth Day this year we thought we’d share one of our all-natural recipes that will leave your mouth feeling fresh and leave less plastic waste behind.  Most of these toothpaste ingredients can be found at any health food store or online retailer:

Coconut Oil Toothpaste 

Ingredients

  • ½ cup coconut oil
  • 2 to 3 TBS baking soda
  • 2 small packets of stevia powder
  • 15 to 20 drops of peppermint or cinnamon essential oil (for flavor)*
  • 10 drops myrrh extract (optional for flavor)*

Melt or slightly soften the coconut oil, then mix in all other ingredients and stir well. Mix using a fork if you are using semi-hard coconut oil and use a spoon for liquid coconut oil. If you melted the coconut oil using a heat source, stir the mixture as it cools to prevent the baking soda from separating.

*Essential oils can be potent, so start with a few drops then add more to taste. Make sure to use therapeutic-grade essential oils that are safe to ingest. Feel free to substitute other essential oils if you prefer.

At FDA we strive to take care of the planet as we provide the best oral health care for our patients.  From using digital records and x-rays for our patients to our mercury-free fillings to our commitment to Holistic Dentistry, we are continually finding ways to be more sustainable in our practice.  This Earth Day, we hope you join us in making an effort to improve your oral health routine for the health of the environment.  If you have any questions about other ways to be eco-friendly while caring for your smile or need to schedule your next appointment, give us a call at 207.781.5900.