The good news is that 80-90% of all oral cancer patients whose cancer was identified early, survive. That’s the good news, the bad news is that oral cancer is one of the few cancers that is seeing significant rises in patient numbers each year. One reason for this is the causation factors.

Tobacco has long been the culprit when it comes to cancer of the mouth, throat, tongue and lips. There has been a significant rise in recent years of those being diagnosed with HPV-16 virus ( or human papilloma virus version 16), the same virus family that has been identified with cervical cancer in women.

We couldn’t finish this post without adding more good news. Dentists are ideally placed to work with other professionals in the diagnosis of oral cancers. Through the combined efforts of dentists and modern technology, cancers and pre-cancerous lesions can now be identified early. This early identification means that early intervention strategies can be put in place that reduce or remove these cancer cells altogether. As I mentioned, 80-90% of patients in this group continue to lead normal lives, pretty much clear of any cancers.

If you feel that something is wrong with your mouth, or you have been a significant user of tobacco products in the past, ask your dentist for an oral cancer check. If they cannot perform one, find a dentist who can.

• The tobacco that you chew comes with a lot of sugar. And sugar, as you know, harms your teeth in a big way, especially if you are eating it randomly throughout the day.
• Tobacco in any form causes bad breath. Smokers often don’t compare themselves with tobacco chewers but they fall in the same category, embarrassing themselves and irritating others with their bad breath.
• Tobacco stains your teeth. People can make it that you either smoke or consume tobacco from those ugly marks marring your smile.
• Tobacco is one of the biggest reasons people get tooth decay. The decay can also lead to loss of teeth.
• Tobacco will cause sores in your mouth. This can be extremely painful.
• What is this life if you cannot enjoy food? Smoking and the consumption of tobacco lead to a loss of taste.
• Tobacco is one of the major reasons of oral cancer.
• You are at an increased risk of periodontal disease if you smoke or consume tobacco in other forms.

Scared? Not yet? Guess, you don’t care for your smile and health, after all. If you are serious about paying attention to your dental health, seek help from your dentist.

Happy smiling!