How Poor Oral Hygiene Can Lead to Oral Cancer


Apart from brushing your teeth twice daily, do you floss every day and visit your dentist regularly?
According to a survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most Americans don’t have healthy oral care habits. More than 50% of people above the age of 30 have gum diseases at some point in their lives, and every 1 in 4 Americans has untreated dental cavities.
Your poor oral care habits can have lasting effects on your overall health. According to one study, bad oral health not only causes dental caries and gum diseases, but it can also lead to heart disease, diabetes, and even cancer.
Oral cancer is one of the leading causes of untimely deaths in the US. Let’s look at how your poor oral hygiene can lead to this deadly disease:
What is Oral Cancer?

Oral cancer is the abnormal growth of cells in the lips, cheeks, tongue, or floor of the mouth. It can also occur in the throat and the sinuses.
Common symptoms of oral cancer include:
Swelling in the lips, gums or other areas inside the mouth
Lumps or white and red patches in the oral cavity
Incomprehensible bleeding in the lips, tongues or cheeks
Unexplained numbness in the mouth or neck
Recurrent sores and mouth infections
A chronic sore throat accompanied by a change in voice quality
Weight loss or constant ear pain

Who’s at Risk of Oral Cancer?

The American Oral Cancer Society estimates that this year around 54,000 Americans will be diagnosed with oral cancer.
The survival timeframe for patients with oral cancer is up to 5 years. And the chances for treatment can improve dramatically with early diagnosis. But oral cancer is difficult to diagnose. Which is why you should never miss your dental appointment!
The American Oral Cancer Society recommends that people above the age of 40 should get themselves screened for oral cancer yearly. Whereas those between the ages of 20–40 should get their screening done every three years.



What does the research say about bad oral health and higher oral cancer risk?

In a recent study published in the Journal of Hematology and Oncology, it was found that poor oral health can lead to a higher risk of developing oral cancer.
It aids the carcinogenic potential of other carcinogens such as tobacco and alcohol and can lead to not only oral cancer but also increase the chances of liver cancer by 75%.
In another study, it was revealed that poor oral health could lead to gum diseases and periodontal inflammation. The accumulation of bacterium in the mouth can cause the development of chronic infection, which, in turn, can increase the chances of developing oral cancer.
To reduce the chances of oral cancer, brush twice daily with fluoride toothpaste, floss every day, and regularly visit your dentist to eliminate any onset signs of the disease!

At Advanced Dental Care, we offer teeth whitening procedures, dental cleaning, and dental partials care at affordable rates in Germantown, MD so you can take care of your oral health with ease. Call us at 301-353-8890 for an appointment or visit our website for more information.



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