This article takes a look at the causes, symptoms and treatment of cancers affecting the lips, tongue, cheek lining, palate and gingiva.

No other word in the medical dictionary strikes fear quite like ‘cancer’ does. Well, perhaps with the exception of the Ebola virus. But when you consider that one in every four people will develop some kind or form of cancer in their lives, and that a significant portion of these people will die from it, one can’t help but believe this terrible affliction to be an early death sentence. Approximately 37,000 Americans are diagnosed with pharyngeal or oral cancer annually, say Coral Springs Dentistry professionals. Of this number, close to 8,000 die every year, which equates to one every hour, 24 hours a day. Unfortunately, the prognosis isn’t rosy. Approximately 43% of all the people diagnosed with oral cancer will not survive the next five years. These are depressing statistics and it’s only increased awareness that will lead to the earlier diagnosis and successful treatment of oral cancer, advise Coral Springs dentistry professionals.

Coral Springs Dentistry: The Importance of Oral Cancer Awareness

There are two very important ways people can become more aware of oral cancer, say Coral Springs dentistry professionals: (1) through an understanding of its risk factors and (2) through an understanding of its symptoms. If you recognize that you are at a higher risk of developing oral cancer, perhaps because you have a family history of it, or because you smoke, then you can go to extra lengths to keep an eye on the health of the soft tissues in the mouth. If you understand that oral cancer can present as a small discoloration on the tongue, a lump on the roof of the mouth or some other inconspicuous abnormality, you will be immediately compelled to seek the attention of a Coral Springs dentistry professional should anything suspicious ever arise. Either way, the very best way to deal with cancer is, if not through prevention, then through early diagnosis and treatment.

1. Coral Springs Dentistry: Causes and Risk Factors for Oral Cancer

Oral cancer most frequently attacks the lips, tongue, cheek linking, palate, gingiva (gum) and the floor of the mouth, say Coral Springs dentistry professionals. The most common form of oral cancer is called a squamous cell carcinoma and risk factors include:

• Smoking and tobacco use (most cases of oral cancer are linked to tobacco use in one form or another; even smokeless tobacco use.)

• Excessive alcohol consumption

• Chronic irritation or inflammation of the soft tissues in the mouth, say Coral Springs dentistry professionals, such as might be caused by dentures, rough teeth or fillings.

• The Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) infection

• Lifelong poor oral hygiene, which leads to oral bacterial infection and inflammation of the gingiva. This also causes periodontal (gum) disease, say Coral Springs dentistry professionals.

• Immunosuppressant medications (those that weaken the immune system).

• Unfortunately, gender also plays a role in the incidence of oral cancer.

According to statistics, men are twice as likely to develop oral cancer as women, particularly those that are older than 40, say Coral Springs dentistry professionals. 

• A family history of oral cancer is a definite risk factor for this disease.

2. Coral Springs Dentistry: The Symptoms of Oral Cancer

It should be a part of your daily oral hygiene routine to check your cheeks, tongue, palate and gums for any abnormalities, say Coral Springs dentistry professionals. These include sores, ulcers and lumps in the mouth that may be:

• A different color to the surrounding tissue (most frequently paler, but may be darker).

• A deep, hard-edged fissure or crack in the soft tissue.

• Painless (but may burn or ache in the advanced stages)

Many oral cancers begin as a mouth ulcer or leukoplakia (a white growth), say Coral Springs dentistry professionals. Always be wary of sores that do not heal or reoccur. Other symptoms include:

• Swollen lymph nodes in the neck

• Weight loss

• Mouth sores

• Chewing problems

• Difficulties in speech

• Swallowing difficulty and pain

• Tongue problems

Coral Springs Dentistry: Testing for Oral Cancer

The tests performed by Coral Springs dentistry professionals to diagnose oral cancer generally involve a thorough visual examination of the soft tissues in the mouth and the palpitation of the neck, throat and lymph nodes. They also use a Trimira Identafi 3000 light which was developed by the MD Anderson Cancer Hospital in Houston, Texas. It uses three wave lengths of light, with no radiation so that your Coral Springs dentist has the ability to see through tissue and take care of problems years before they come to the surface.

Should the exam reveal any sores, ulcers, bleeding, lumps or lesions, the dentist will perform a biopsy of the abnormality to determine whether it is cancerous or not. They may also opt for X-rays and/or a CT scan to see whether the cancer has spread. The treatment for oral cancer generally involves the surgical removal of the tumor if it is small enough. Radiation therapy and chemotherapy may also be recommended if the tumor is large or has spread.

Coral Springs Dentistry: A Final Note on Oral Cancer

If you ever notice any of the symptoms listed above, on their own or in any combination, it is of the utmost importance that you contact a Coral Springs Dentistry professional immediately and schedule yourself for an appointment. Timely treatment WILL save your life!

This article provides professional treatment advice for people who suffer from Bruxism; sub-conscious teeth grinding that is generally a result of stress.

Teeth grinding. You may be completely unaware that you do it, but it could lead to the very early demise of your pearly whites, warns this Coral Springs dentist! Bruxism, as the condition is officially termed, is characterized by the clenching of the jaw and/or the grinding of the teeth. Now, most of us do this as an expression of anger, frustration and stress. But one of the biggest problems with this condition is that we mostly do it sub-consciously, or at nighttime when fast asleep. And without regular attention from a Coral Springs dentistry professional, our teeth can quite literally be ground down to the dentine; the tooth structure underlying the dental enamel. Essentially, Bruxism, if left undiagnosed and without treatment, does permanent damage to the teeth that may see patients requiring dental crowns, root canal therapy and even dental implants should the latter fail, says the Coral Springs dentist.

Coral Springs Dentistry: Possible Causes of Bruxism

It is not entirely clear what the cause of jaw clenching and teeth grinding is, says the Coral Springs dentist. Diagnoses vary from patient to patient, but the most common underlying cause of Bruxism is believed to be daily stress and how efficiently people cope with this stress. Recognizing Bruxism is easy if the condition has gone unchecked for many years; the grinding surfaces of the teeth will have been worn down substantially, says the Coral Springs dentist. In some cases, this erosion is so advanced, that the softer and darker-colored dentine underlying the enamel has been exposed! This part of the tooth structure is more porous and less resistant to acid and bacteria, which leaves the entire tooth extremely vulnerable. It is for this reason that teeth grinders so frequently require ceramic restorations and root canal therapy, say Coral Springs dentistry professionals.

Coral Springs Dentistry: The Symptoms of Bruxism

The symptoms of severe teeth grinding include:

• Temporomandibular joint problems (TMJ): Jaw clenching can put undue stress on the muscles and tissues in and around the joint between the mandible (lower jaw) and the temporal plates of the skull, says the Coral Springs dentist. This can result in pain and inflammation of this joint and its muscles.

• Ear ache: Due to the proximity of the ear canal to the temporomandibular joint, teeth grinding, says the Coral Springs dentist, can cause pain to refer to the ears.

• Headaches: Caused by referred pain from the temporomandibular joint.

• Tooth sensitivity to hot or cold temperature extremes and to sweet foods and drinks. This is caused by the erosion of the tooth crown’s natural protective layer, the dental enamel, says the Coral Springs dentist. The more exposed collection of nerves in the pulp chamber thus reacts more readily to such temperature extremes.

• Worn teeth: One of the most obvious indications of Bruxism is the wearing down of the tooth crowns. This can be so severe that the teeth end up looking as though they have literally been sawed in half (see image below)!

Bruxism, explain Coral Springs dentistry professionals, is also linked with depression, anxiety, tension, stress, insomnia and eating disorders.

Coral Springs Dentistry: The Treatment for Bruxism

If you have experienced any of the above-mentioned signs or symptoms, you should visit the Coral Springs dentist immediately. They will be able to tell from the condition of your teeth whether you do indeed grind them excessively. The Coral Springs dentist will then, first and foremost, take molds of your teeth to facilitate in the fabrication of a mouth guard. This will prevent you from doing any further damage to your dental enamel. Then, it will be determined whether you require treatment for any existing damage you have done; this may involve the placement of caps, fillings, crowns or other protective restorations. The Coral Springs dentist will also make sure that no opportunistic bacterial infections have set in anywhere.

The long term treatment of Bruxism involves the identification of the source of stress, depression or anxiety and the treatment thereof, says this Coral Springs dentist.