The Oral Health Connection - By Penny Judson-Benny, Registered Dental Hygienist

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Oral Cancer is cancer that occurs on the lips, inside the mouth, on the back of the throat, the tonsils or salivary glands. It occurs more frequently in men than women and most likely to strike people over 40 years of age. Smoking in combination with heavy alcohol use is a key risk factor.

If not detected early, oral cancer can require surgery, radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy. It can be fatal, with an overall five-year survival rate of approximately 50%. Part of the reason for this poor prognosis is a failure to recognize the early symptoms, so detecting oral cancer early is the key to successful treatment.

What are the symptoms of oral cancer?

You won't always be able to spot the earliest warning signs of oral cancer, which is why regular check-ups with both your dental and medical health practitioners are so important. They are trained to detect early warning signs of oral cancer. You should see your dentist and/or an ENT Specialist if you notice any of the following:
    a sore on the lips, gums or inside the mouth that bleeds easily and doesn't heal
    a lump or thickening in the cheek that you can feel with your tongue
    loss of feeling or numbness in any part of your mouth
    white or red patches on the gums, tongue or inside your mouth
    difficulty chewing or swallowing food
    soreness or unexplained pain in your mouth or the feeling that something is caught in your throat with no known cause
    swelling of the jaw causing dentures to fit poorly
    change in voice

How can I prevent oral cancer?
If you don't chew or smoke tobacco – don't start! Tobacco use accounts for 80 to 90 percent of oral cancers.
Smoking – the link between smoking, lung cancer and heart disease is well established. Smoking also affects your general health, making it harder to fight infections and recover from injuries and surgery. Among young adults, smoking can lead to stunted growth and other developmental difficulties. Many smokers find they can't smell or taste as well as before and risk developing bad breath and stained teeth.
Smoking cigarettes, a pipe or cigar greatly increases your chances of developing cancer of the larynx, mouth, throat and esophagus. Because so many people are not aware of or ignore early symptoms, oral cancer often spreads before it is detected.
Chewing Tobacco – Chronic users of smokeless tobacco are 50 times more likely to develop oral cancer than non-users.  People who stop using tobacco, even after many years of use, greatly reduce their risk for oral cancer.
Chronic and/or heavy use of alcohol also increases your risk of cancer and alcohol combined with tobacco creates an especially high risk.

How is oral cancer treated?
After a diagnosis has been made, a team of specialists (including oral surgeons, ENT Specialists and dentists) develops a treatment plan to fit each patient's needs. Surgery is usually required, followed by radiation and chemotherapy.

Each time you consume foods and drinks that contain sugars and starches, the bacteria in plaque produce acids that attack your teeth for 20 minutes or more. To reduce damage to your tooth enamel, limit the number of between meal snacks and drinks. When you do snack, choose nutritious foods such as cheese, raw vegetables, plain yogurt or fruit.

What oral side effects occur with radiation?
When radiation is used for the head and neck area, many people experience irritation in the mouth, 'Dry Mouth', difficulty swallowing and changes in taste. Radiation also increases your chances of getting cavities, therefore it is especially important to take good care of your teeth, gums, mouth and throat during radiation treatment.

Be sure to talk regularly with your cancer specialist and dentist about any mouth problems you might have during and after radiation treatment. Also, discuss with your dentist, prior to starting the head and neck cancer therapy, what you can do before, during and after your therapy to help prevent the possible oral side effects.

Important Oral Health Tips During Therapy
    Brush and floss after meals daily
    Avoid spices and coarse food like raw vegetables, dry crackers and nuts
    Avoid tobacco and alcohol
    Eat/chew sugar-free gum or candy to keep your mouth moist

Before radiation treatment, notify your dentist and make an appointment for a complete check-up and teeth cleaning. Ask your dental health professional to consult with your radiation oncologist before your radiation treatment begins.

'Keep Your Smile For A Lifetime!'



Penny Judson-Benny, RDH, is the owner and operator of Mountain View Dental Hygiene Clinic in Black Diamond and can be contacted at 403-933-7722.