What Are the Steps to Prevent Oral Cancer?
What does your mind gravitate towards when you think of your oral health? There’s a high chance that dental cavities, bad breath, and gum disease will be at the top of your list. Inasmuch as those issues affect your oral health and need to be kept at bay or dealt with, there is oral cancer that you need to consider.
Oral cancer is much severe than any other oral health issue you may have. It is the third most common form of cancer. Nearly 5,400 people are diagnosed with oral cancer each year, and approximately 1,500 people succumb to the disease each year.
So, if you have not yet been diagnosed with oral cancer, it is best to take preventive measures to ensure that you reduce the risk of developing these diseases. That’s why we offer oral cancer screenings in Cambridge, ON, to help you stay ahead of the disease.
Without further ado, let’s plunge into the different preventive measures that you can take to prevent the disease:
- Avoid Tobacco
Not so long ago, this disease was known as the smokers’ disease. This is because the highest number of cases arose from tobacco users. Tobacco remains the highest risk factor for the disease.
It doesn’t matter if you smoke or vape or chew tobacco; just know any form of tobacco plays a direct role in causing oral cancer.
Smokeless and snuff tobaccos usually placed directly in your mouth can create leukoplakia (grey-white ulcers), which can become cancerous. Plus, smokeless tobacco is known to have certain chemicals that can damage the gene that can protect you from oral cancer.
So, it would be awesome to steer clear of tobacco, and you will have a bigger chance of not developing the disease.
- Reduce Your Alcohol Intake
Like using tobacco, the more alcohol you consume, the higher the risk of developing oral cancer. Alcohol plays a critical role in altering how your body chemistry works and weakens your body’s defenses against cancer.
If you take more than four drinks a day, you increase your chance of developing oral cancer two or three times. The effect multiplies even further if you excessively drink and smoke.
The best thing you can do will be to reduce your alcohol intake and avoid binge drinking.
- Protect Your Lips From the Sun
UV radiation from the sun may cause lip cancer, especially if you spend prolonged hours of the day directly under the sun.
Therefore, do your best to avoid your sun exposure during peak hours, which are usually between mid-morning and 2 P.M. You can wear a lip balm with SPF if you know that you will be out during the day. Wearing hats can also do the trick and can shield your face from the sun.
- Eat Plenty of Fruits and Vegetables
There is nothing that you can eat in abundance and still reap the benefits, such as fresh fruits and vegetables. They have lots of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that can rev up your immune system. Ensure that you take at least five servings per day, and don’t be shy; mix them up. Carrots, squash, and Brussels sprouts are perfect for your mouth.
- Regularly Visit Our Dentist
One of the best things you can do for your oral health is to visit our dentist regularly. Our dentist can catch oral cancer signs early during your routine checkup. You might not know the early oral cancer signs,so by the time you decide to get your mouth checked, the disease has progressed.
So, regularly visiting our dentist can ensure that you catch the disease early and get treatment right away when there is a higher chance of beating it.
- Get Vaccinated for HPV
Not so long ago, tobacco was the leading cause of oral cancer. But now, HPV (human papillomavirus) has joined the race. It is now among the reasons why younger people are developing oral cancer. This is because HPV is sexually transmitted and can be transmitted to anyone who is sexually active. Getting vaccinated or practicing safe sex can aid in keeping the disease at bay.
Oral cancer is preventable. Additionally, don’t forget to do the regular teeth cleaning habits of brushing and flossing your teeth each day. Contact us at Floss Dental Cambridge if you need oral cancer screenings in Cambridge, ON.