Poor oral hygiene can cause a wide range of minor and major health conditions; thus, maintaining proper oral hygiene is important. There is more to oral hygiene than brushing and flossing your teeth. You must also ensure that you visit your dentist for regular dental checkups. During dental checkups, a dentist can identify any abnormal conditions in the mouth that need to be addressed promptly, including signs of oral cancer. Many people do not realize the importance of oral health and its role in their overall health and well-being. Even if oral cancer is more common in smokers and people who use tobacco products, everyone is at risk of oral cancer. Observing proper oral health practices and regular dental visits can reduce your risk of developing oral cancer.
Understanding Oral Cancer
Oral cancer, also known as mouth cancer, is a common type of head and throat cancer that mainly affects people above the age of 60 years. Oral cancer can affect parts of the mouth, including the tongue, lips, roof, and floor. It can also affect the far end of the tongue and the roof of the mouth, known as the oropharynx. Oral cancer can manifest in common issues in the mouth, like white patches or mouth sores that bleed whenever you touch them. The main difference between a common oral problem and oral cancer symptoms is that cancer symptoms persist and do not go away with time. If not treated, oral cancer can spread to other parts of the mouth, throat, head, and neck. Men are at a higher risk of developing oral cancer than women.
Causes Of Oral Cancer
Oral cancer is an abnormal growth of cells in the mouth, and it is not always clear what causes the disease. Normal cells on the lips and the mouth multiply at a set rate. However, cancer cells multiply abnormally and might form a tumor. The tumor can increase in size and destroy the surrounding body tissues. When cancer spreads to other parts, it is known as metastatic cancer.
Even if the specific cause of oral cancer is not clear, there are some risk factors:
Tobacco Use
Using tobacco products can increase the risk of oral cancer, regardless of the form in which you consume tobacco. The common tobacco products include cigarettes, pipes, cigars, snuff, and chewable tobacco.
Consuming Alcohol
Alcohol consumption, especially regular drinking, can increase the risk of oral cancer. The risk is even higher if you combine alcohol and tobacco products.
Exposure To Human Papillomavirus
Abbreviated as HPV, human papillomavirus is a cancer-causing virus that is mainly transmitted through sexual contact. The human papillomavirus has no effect on some people and goes away after some time. However, in others, it causes abnormal cell growth. Abnormal cell growth caused by HPV can lead to different types of cancers, including oral cancer. Oral sex can expose you to the human papillomavirus.
Excessive Exposure Of The Lips To The Sun
You can be at a higher risk of oral cancer due to excessive exposure of your lips to the sun or a tanning lamp.
Weakened Immune System
You might be at a higher risk of oral cancer if your body's immune system is weakened by illnesses or medication. People taking medication to control the immune system, especially after an organ transplant, can be at a higher risk of developing cancer. Medical conditions like HIV infection can also increase the risk of oral cancer.
Poor Oral Health
Most people overlook their oral health because they do not understand its impact on their well-being. Failing to observe good oral health practices can lead to a higher risk of oral cancer.
Signs Of Oral Cancer
The symptoms of oral cancer can occur on any part of your mouth, including the gums, tongue, lips, and inside your cheeks. The common symptoms of oral cancer include the following:
- A red or white patch inside your mouth
- A mouth ulcer that persists for more than two weeks
- A lump on the lips or inside the mouth
- Challenges with swallowing food
- Persistent pain inside the mouth
- A hoarse voice or difficulty speaking
- A lump on the throat or neck
- Involuntary weight loss
Your Oral Hygiene And Oral Cancer
Observing proper oral hygiene is not only good for your dental health but also for your overall well-being. Poor oral health increases the risk of oral cancer. Taking proactive measures to enhance and preserve your oral health can significantly reduce the risk of cancer. Here are a few ways in which you can improve your oral hygiene and dental care regimen:
Floss Your Teeth Before You Brush
When you floss, you loosen the food particles caught between the teeth and disrupt the bacteria. This enables you to remove plaque more effectively during brushing.
Focus On The Tongue
To maintain a healthy oral environment, you must keep your tongue clean. The tongue can be a thriving ground for harmful bacteria that cause tooth decay, bad breath, and gum disease. Use a tongue scraper or a toothbrush to clean the tongue and remove any bacteria that may be adhering to it.
Add An Extra Layer Of Protection
You can pair regular brushing and flossing with an appropriate fluoride mouthwash. A fluoride mouthwash can penetrate areas where the toothbrush cannot reach and prevent the development of harmful bacteria or illnesses. You should consider using a chlorhexidine mouthwash if you suffer from gum disease, mouth infection, or mouth ulcers. Using the right mouthwash, preferably recommended by your dentist, can reduce bacteria accumulation and oral inflammation.
Your Diet Matters
You should avoid acidic and sugary foods because these can erode your tooth enamel, causing tooth decay. Consume fibrous fruits like pears and apples because they act as natural toothbrushes. Waiting for three hours facilitates saliva production, keeping your teeth clean and neutralizing harmful acids.
Stay Well Hydrated
Consuming water rinses and cleanses your mouth, keeping bacteria away, enabling you to maintain healthy teeth and gums. Staying hydrated also enhances saliva production, which keeps the teeth clean and protects the enamel.
Regular Dental Visits
Regular brushing and flossing are important in maintaining your health, but they are not enough. You must also visit your dentist regularly. Ideally, you should have two dental checkups every year. During these visits, the dentist will examine your mouth and look for any abnormal signs, including signs of oral cancer. You can also undergo professional dental cleaning to remove plaque and tartar. If oral cancer is identified early, the proper interventions can be taken to prevent its progression.
How Poor Oral Hygiene Can Increase The Risk Of Oral Cancer
Infections or inflammations resulting from poor oral hygiene can increase the risk of oral cancer. Poor oral hygiene can also create an environment where cancer cells can thrive. You can maintain a healthy environment by cleaning your teeth regularly and visiting your dentist often. Poor oral hygiene can increase the risk of oral cancer in the following ways:
Chronic Inflammation
Poor oral hygiene can cause an accumulation of bacteria and plaque. Plaque accumulation can irritate your gums, causing irritation and inflammation of the gums and other mouth tissues. Chronic inflammation can weaken your immune system, making it easy for pathogens to thrive. Persistent inflammation of the mouth tissues can trigger abnormal cell growth, increasing the risk of oral cancer.
Susceptibility To Infections
Poor oral hygiene can create a conducive environment for bacteria and viruses to thrive. Exposure to pathogens increases the risk of infection. You could even be exposed to the human papillomavirus, which can significantly increase your risk of oral cancer. HPV especially increases the risk of oropharyngeal cancer, which occurs at the back of the throat.
Cellular Changes
The repeated irritation and inflammation of the mouth tissues due to poor oral hygiene can cause cellular changes. Cellular changes can increase your risk of oral cancer. It can disrupt normal cell growth, making your cells susceptible to oral cancer.
Amplifying Other Risk Factors
If you have poor oral hygiene, the impact of other risk factors like alcohol, tobacco use, and HPV is amplified. For example, if you have poor oral hygiene and you also use tobacco products, your risk of oral cancer will be amplified.
Oral Cancer Diagnosis
Your dentist will perform a physical oral examination. The dentist will inspect all the mouth areas, including the roof/floor of the mouth, cheeks, tongue, and the back of the throat. Your dentist will also check the lymph nodes on your neck to see if they are swollen. If a dentist cannot understand some of your symptoms, he/she can refer you to an ENT specialist. Your dentist can recommend a tissue biopsy or brush biopsy if there are any unusual lesions, tumors, or growths. A brush biopsy involves collecting cells from a tumor by brushing them. This procedure is painless. A tissue biopsy involves taking a small piece of the suspected cancerous area and examining it under a microscope to check for cancer cells.
One or more of these tests can also be performed during oral cancer diagnosis:
- X-rays to determine whether the cancerous cells have moved to other body parts, like the throat, lungs, or other parts of the body
- A PET scan to determine if the cancer cells have moved to the lymph nodes
- A CT scan to determine whether a patient has tumors in the mouth, throat, neck, lungs, or other body parts
- An MRI scan is used to portray a clear image of your head and neck to enable the dentist to determine the stage of the illness.
- An endoscopy to examine the sinuses, nasal passages, inner throat, trachea, and windpipe.
Oral Cancer Treatment
There are various treatments for oral cancer. The appropriate treatment depends on the location and the stage of oral cancer. Common treatment methods include the following:
Surgery
In the early stages, oral cancer can be treated through surgery to remove the cancer cells and the affected lymph nodes. Depending on how far the cancer has spread, the doctor can also remove some tissues around the mouth and neck.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy involves using drugs to kill the cancer cells. The drugs can be administered through an intravenous line or orally. Chemotherapy treatment is often offered on an outpatient basis, but sometimes, a patient requires hospitalization.
Radiation Therapy
During radiation therapy, the doctor aims a radiation beam at the tumor. The treatment can be administered once or twice daily, five days a week. A treatment cycle can last between two and eight weeks. For advanced oral cancer, the doctor can combine both radiation therapy and chemotherapy.
Targeted Therapy
This treatment can be effective in early and later cancer stages. Targeted therapy involves drugs that bind to certain proteins on cancer cells and hinder their growth.
Proper Nutrition
Nutrition also plays a crucial role in oral cancer treatment. Weight loss and poor appetite are common during oral cancer treatment because many patients find it challenging to chew or swallow. A nutritionist can help a cancer patient develop a meal plan and include gentle foods for the mouth and throat. Your body requires nutrients, vitamins, calories, and minerals to withstand cancer treatment.
Lowering The Risk Of Oral Cancer
You can lower your risk of developing oral cancer by doing the following.
- Avoid smoking, including smokeless tobacco. There are many forms of tobacco, including cigarettes, pipes, cigars, snuff, and chewable tobacco.
- Limit your alcohol intake because, just like tobacco, alcohol increases your risk of oral cancer.
- Obtain a vaccine against the human papillomavirus.
- Reduce your exposure to the human papillomavirus.
- Eat vegetables and fruits.
- Protect yourself from the sun.
- Observe proper oral hygiene.
Find an Experienced Dentist Near Me
Oral cancer can be prevented, and one way of lowering your risk of developing oral cancer is by maintaining proper oral hygiene. Brush and floss your teeth, preferably twice daily. You should also have a regular dental checkup. When a dentist identifies oral cancer early, it is easy to treat it. For reliable oral health services, including oral cancer treatment and screening, contact Washington Dental. We have offices in Carson, Los Angeles, Lomita, and Torrance. Call us at 310-217-1507 to speak to one of our dentists.
