You haven’t visited your dentist for a checkup in a while. Usually, you take good care of your teeth. You’ve missed your oral hygiene recently due to your children’s hectic school and sports schedules, as well as your hard employment.
With recent news about health issues related to oral hygiene, you’re concerned that you’ve put your health at risk by failing to care for your teeth.
According to a study, you may be putting your health in danger. Several research has revealed that poor oral hygiene habits might lead to serious diseases, such as oral cancer.
What is oral cancer?
Cells in the body may split, multiply, and die. A cancer cell fails to function normally. Oral cancer occurs when some cells in the mouth become abnormal and start to develop and spread. These abnormal cells target healthy cells, causing damage to the surrounding tissues.
Scientifically, the mouth is referred to as the oral cavity. The oral cavity includes the inner and outside of your lips, the inside of your cheeks, your teeth, your gums, the portion of your tongue that is in the center of your mouth, the bottom of your mouth, and the roof of your mouth. Oral malignancies in the mouth are classified into three types: lips, inside the mouth, and tongue.
Oral cancer can also be confirmed in the throat, which lies in the rear of the mouth and is known as the Oropharynx. This type of oral cancer is throat cancer, often referred to as oropharyngeal cancer. Throat cancer is commonly seen at the back of the tongue, the roof of the mouth, the tonsils, and the upper throat.
Oral Cancer: Symptoms and Risk Factors
Oral cancer symptoms might be similar to those of other diseases or diseases of the mouth, lips, and throat. The most common symptoms of oral cancer are persistent sores or lumps. Other symptoms of oral cancer include unexplained chronic mouth discomfort and pain in the teeth or jaw, loose teeth, white or red patches in the mouth or throat area, difficulty swallowing or chewing, a lump in the neck, and chronic poor breath.
The cause and risk factors of oral cancer are unknown. These risk factors may include the use of tobacco products such as cigarettes or chewing tobacco, excessive alcohol use, a family history of mouth cancer, and the HPV virus. Excessive sun exposure is known to increase the chance of developing lip cancer.
Oral Cancer Risk Linked to Bad Oral Hygiene
A recent case study found that poor oral hygiene was linked with an even higher risk factor for oral cancer. Individuals who used chewing tobacco in addition to having poor oral hygiene had the highest risk of developing oral cancer.
The case study found that maintaining a decent oral hygiene treatment greatly reduced the risk of developing oral cancer. The case study outlined optimal oral hygiene as brushing teeth several times a day with toothpaste, getting frequent dental check-ups, and having no or only a few missing teeth.
The study also found that tobacco use and a poor diet were risk factors for getting mouth cancer. In addition to good dental hygiene habits, the case study stated that stopping smoking, not chewing tobacco, limiting drinking alcohol, and eating a well-balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables were the best ways to significantly reduce the risk of developing oral cancer.
Dental Checkups to Prevent Oral Cancer
Oral cancer can cause serious damage to the teeth, gums, tongue, lips, and throat. If left untreated, mouth cancer can spread to other areas of the body. Professional dental clinics, including Dazzling Smiles Dental Clinic, in Malaysia are trained to detect and diagnose oral cancer.
Regular dental examinations can help prevent oral cancer. During your dental visit, the Oral Cancer Screening Dentist can explain how poor oral hygiene can lead to cancer and how to start a healthy routine.
