Dental Oasis Of Orange County

Friday, February 3, 2017

Does Physical Activity Improve Your Oral Health?

Today, we know that our oral health doesn't work in isolation and can greatly affect--and be affected--by other bodily systems. So naturally, exercising and improving overall health surly has some benefits for improving oral health. For instance, those who are overweight or diabetic tend to have inflammation and gum issues, but those who exercise and have a lower BMI tend to have healthier oral tissues.

But despite the benefits, there are exercise-related habits that active people should be aware of that can actually harm your oral health. According to Carefree Dental, two issues are sports drinks and mouth breathing:

Do You Know How Exercise Impacts your Dental Health?

Sports Drinks
Many athletes prefer to rehydrate by drinking sports drinks or energy drinks. Although the electrolytes found in these beverages can in fact help your body refuel and stay hydrated during a workout, they can take a major toll on your teeth. In fact, a study published in the clinical journal of the Academy of General Dentistry found that there is so much acid in sports drinks, that damage occurs after only 5 days of consistent consumption.

"Young adults consume these drinks assuming that they will improve their sports performance and energy levels and that they are ‘better' for them than soda," says Poonam Jain, BDS, MS, MPH, lead author of the study. "Most of these patients are shocked to learn that these drinks are essentially bathing their teeth with acid."

Another contributing factor to athlete’s dental problems is how they drink these beverages. Taking sips throughout a workout gives teeth frequent exposure to the damaging sugars and acids in these sports drinks, making them vulnerable to tooth decay.

Open Mouth Breathing

During intense exercise, people tend to breath heavily with an open mouth. Mouth breathing dries out your mouth, reduces saliva flow, and creates an environment for bacteria to thrive. Adding corrosive sports drinks to the mix only makes things worse for an athlete’s teeth. Rapid, heavy breathing.

The same study mentioned above also felt that open mouth breathing played a role in tooth decay. Researcher Cornelia Frese that it can lead to dental erosion and cavities. “The athletes breathe through the mouth during hard exercise,” she mentioned. “The mouth gets dry, and produces less saliva, which normally protects teeth.” Thus, teeth are at an even higher risk for dental issue among athletes.

Read full article here . . .

Thankfully, these habits can be remedied pretty easily by drinking water instead of acidic drinks and by focusing on both nose and mouth breathing. And surely the benefits of exercise outweigh the downsides of these small habits. After all, there have been numerous studies linking heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer's, some autoimmune diseases, etc. to poor gum health. So if you diet and exercise, you may not only improve your overall health but your risk of diseases like periodontitis.

Along with the previously mentioned habits, athletes should be more aware of which activities can increase their risk of tooth trauma. Obvious culprits like football and hockey necessitate mouthguard usage, but even sports like soccer, track-and-field, gymnastics, etc.should be done with mouthguards.

Lastly, besides reducing certain habits and wearing a mouthguard, you may also want to visit your dentist before participating in certain recreational activities. For example, the Dental Tribune had a surprising article about how SCUBA diving could be bad for your teeth and any restorations:

Training to become a scuba diver? Start at the dentist

Recreational divers should consider consulting with their dentist before diving if they recently received dental care, says Vinisha Ranna, BDS, lead author and a student in the UB School of Dental Medicine.

“Divers are required to meet a standard of medical fitness before certification, but there are no dental health prerequisites,” says Ranna, who is also a certified stress and rescue scuba diver.
“Considering the air supply regulator is held in the mouth, any disorder in the oral cavity can potentially increase the diver’s risk of injury. A dentist can look and see if diving is affecting a patient’s oral health.”

The study, “Prevalence of dental problems in recreational SCUBA divers,” was published in the British Dental Journal.

The research was inspired by Ranna’s first experience with scuba diving in 2013. Although she enjoyed being in the water, she couldn’t help but notice a squeezing sensation in her teeth, a condition known as barodontalgia.

Published research on dental symptoms experienced while scuba diving is scarce or focuses largely on military divers, says Ranna, so she crafted her own study. She created an online survey that was distributed to 100 certified recreational divers. Those who were under 18-years-old, ill or taking decongestant medication were excluded.

Her goal was to identify the dental symptoms that divers experience and detect trends in how or when they occur.

Of the 41 participants who reported dental symptoms, 42 percent experienced barodontalgia, 24 percent described pain from holding the air regulator in their mouths too tightly and 22 percent reported jaw pain.

Another five percent noted that their crowns were loosened during their dive, and one person reported a broken dental filling.

“The potential for damage is high during scuba diving,” says Ranna, who has completed 60 dives. “The dry air and awkward position of the jaw while clenching down on the regulator is an interesting mix. An unhealthy tooth underwater would be much more obvious than on the surface. One hundred feet underwater is the last place you want to be with a fractured tooth.”

Read full article here . . .

Ultimately exercise is great for oral and overall health, athletes just need to step up their preventive dentistry game if they want to avoid any pitfalls. You can learn more about preventive dentistry services at dentaloasisofoc.com/preventive-dentistry/

Image Credit

The blog post Does Physical Activity Improve Your Oral Health? is courtesy of: http://www.dentaloasisofoc.com/

Dental Oasis Of Orange County
7777 Edinger Ave #232
Huntington Beach, CA 92647
(714) 894-7700
drtoorani@dentaloasisofoc.com

Google My Business Listing
Google Map
Directions to our office
Yelp Page
Facebook
Twitter

Thursday, February 2, 2017

Veneers, Fillings, or Bondings? Depends on Your Chipped Tooth

If you've chipped a tooth, then along with structural corrections, you may want cosmetic corrections as well--especially for teeth that are seen when you smile. The question is, do you need fillings, bonding, or veneers? This can depend on a number of factors. If nerves have been damaged, you may need an extraction or endodontic treatment (e.g. root canal) and a filling. If you have multiple teeth that have been chipped, you may want to consider veneers. But for just a single tiny chip, then bonding is the way to go since it is inexpensive and only takes one visit.

As you can see, the descriptor "chipped tooth" can describe a number of ailments. A post at The Daily Grind goes into more detail as to why a "chipped tooth" can produce many different restorative options:

Deciphering the Meaning of ‘I Chipped a Tooth’

I know this is something you hear all the time: “I chipped a tooth.” This can mean so many things, especially if it is coming from a nondentist.

“I chipped a tooth” in the posterior can be a chip off the marginal ridge next to a class II restoration that you did five years ago. And if you saw this, you might just say, “It is fine,” or you might just smooth it off. Or a broken tooth in the posterior could mean the ling cusp of tooth No. 12 just broke to the gumline and below.

The question that usually comes up at our office is: How do we schedule patients who call and say, “I chipped a tooth.”

I am a doctor who does not like to schedule a “come in and we will see” visit. I know how difficult it can be for people to take time off of work or get a babysitter just so I can tell them, “Yep, you have a chipped tooth, and we can see you in three weeks to take care of this.”

Sometimes I schedule 50 minutes for a chip on the anterior that you couldn’t see with a microscope, or I might schedule 20 minutes for a “chip” when, actually, a child fell off his bike and “chipped” the heck out of teeth Nos. 8 and 9, to the point where the nerves were hanging out.

Because I refuse to do a “look-and-see” appointment, about a year ago, we bought a smartphone for the office. First, we bought it to be able to send text messages to people to confirm their appointments. We all know that calling someone at home and leaving a message on their voicemail is about as effective as sending a smoke signal (but we tried for 10 years). And nearly everyone has a smartphone these days, and everyone sends text messages (except for Grandma Nel, who we still just call). Now that we have this designated smartphone, we just ask people to send us a photo of the tooth via text message

Read the full blog post here . . .

As you can see, if patients do chip their teeth, they should be concerned about setting up the right appointment first before settling on veneers, bonding, etc. If there is a dental emergency and severe trauma, saving the tooth's integrity is paramount and you need to call your dentist right away. Because some enamel injuries are difficult to spot, your dentist may send you to another specialist first. One study showed that some specialists may have better imaging equipment that could help identify chips:

Which imaging system is better for diagnosing tooth cracks?

When it comes to examining images of a tooth and identifying a crack, should you use periapical radiography or cone-beam CT (CBCT)? Also, who is better trained to identify these cracks on images, an endodontist or a radiologist?

Researchers from China noted that cracks in teeth present practitioners with a challenge in designing a treatment plan. Using both periapical radiography (PR) and CBCT, they investigated the best imaging method to identify these cracks while also comparing the performance of different practitioners (PLOS One, January 4, 2017).

"In clinical practice, it is a huge challenge for endodontists to know the depth of a crack in a cracked tooth," the authors wrote . . .Early enamel cracks have no obvious symptoms and may not be visible on examination. Yet they can lead to patients coming to your office because of pulpitis, periapical periodontitis, or even root fracture. As creating an appropriate treatment plan and assessing the long-term prognosis for these teeth can be difficult, there's a need to understand the best way to diagnose this condition . . .

"Within the limitations of this study, on an artificial simulation model of cracked teeth for early diagnosis, we recommend that it would be better for a cracked tooth to be diagnosed by a radiologist with CBCT than PR," the authors concluded.

Read the rest of the study here . . .

Once the severity of the tooth chip has been identified and the structural integrity checked out, and once you've visited any specialists (e.g. radiologists), then you can start looking at bonding, veneers, and the like. Take a look at dentaloasisofoc.com/cosmetic-dentistry/veneers/ for more information.

Image Credit

The following article Veneers, Fillings, or Bondings? Depends on Your Chipped Tooth was originally published on: http://www.dentaloasisofoc.com

Friday, January 27, 2017

Sedation Dentistry Depends on a Number of Factors

WebMD says that a dental phobia is more serious than just feeling a little anxious about going to the dentist. People who suffer from this phobia can have panic attacks or even avoid dental visits for years. So the quick fix is to undergo sedation dentistry, right? The answer is "it depends." There isn't a one-size-fits all way for sedation, so if you've been avoiding the dentist for years and want to go this route, you should learn about the different types (gas, oral sedatives, IV, etc.) that you can undergo:

Is Sedation Dentistry Right for you?

With sedation, the dentist administers a drug before or during the dental procedure. Only one type — general anesthesia — renders the patient completely unconscious. The other forms will relax you, but won’t knock you out completely.

The most common types of sedation dentistry include the following:

Nitrous oxide: A gas that relaxes you during the procedure. It wears off quickly, so your dentist might let you drive yourself home after the appointment.

Oral sedatives: Oral sedatives, such as diazepam, also help relax patients during dental procedures. You typically take them an hour or so before your appointment. You’re fully awake but less anxious, and you might feel a little sleepy until it wears off.

Intravenous sedatives: Intravenous, or IV, sedatives can put you in varying stages of consciousness. This is also known as general anesthesia and, as mentioned above, will put you into a deep sleep until it wears off. Other IV drugs, however, can put you into a “twilight sleep.” You’re less aware of your surroundings, you might feel sleepy, and you might not remember much of the procedure once it’s over.

Some patients assume that general anesthesia offers the best solution. However, it also comes with more potential side effects than the other methods, so you might want to consider a lesser form of sedation dentistry . . .

Read more at 123dentist.com . . .

As you can see, if you have many allergies, any secondary health conditions, and/or have had bad interactions under anesthesia in the past, you may unfortunately not be a good candidate for sedation dentistry. It's best to talk about all your options with your dentist however. As 123dentist.com says, your provider may still be willing to let you undergo this route if you take oral sedatives that don't completely knock you out.

If you do get the go-ahead, you and your dentist may also want to talk about which anesthetics typically have the best results. For instance, drbicuspid.com says that while every practitioner may have a personal preference at their office, some patients do better on one drug than another. For instance, one study showed that patients were able to come out of sevoflurane anesthesia easier, but that there weren't many intense side effects (e.g. vomiting) for propofol anesthetics:

Which Dental Anesthetic Do Patients Prefer?

Every practitioner has a preference for which anesthetic to use for adult patients with severe dental anxiety. But, of sevoflurane or propofol, which do patients prefer?

"We, therefore, performed a crossover study to determine which was more preferable for ambulatory anesthesia between propofol and sevoflurane based on the comparison of the recovery profile and patient satisfaction after anesthesia," Keita Ohkushi, DDS, PhD, and co-authors wrote.

Dr. Ohkushi is an assistant professor in the department of dental anesthesiology at the Tokyo Dental College.

Fatigue cited

Every office has adult patients who are severely anxious at the thought of treatment. These patients sometimes need to be anesthetized for treatment to occur. So researchers from Japan wanted to see which anesthetic patients preferred for ambulatory anesthesia: propofol alone or sevoflurane alone. Both are currently used for ambulatory anesthesia, and patients emerge rapidly after discontinuation.

“Propofol may be more suitable for ambulatory anesthesia for dental treatment.”

— Keita Ohkushi, DDS, PhD, and co-authors

The study included 20 adult patients with severe dental anxiety who needed at least two dental treatments. All patients received both propofol and sevoflurane in this study, allowing for a direct comparison. No coadministered drugs were used.

Anesthesia was induced with propofol (1% Diprivan injection kit, AstraZeneca) with predicted effect site concentration at 3.5 ?g/mL in the patients who received propofol. In the sevoflurane group, anesthesia was induced with 3% sevoflurane (Sevofrane, Abbott Japan) using a face mask with supplemental oxygen at 6 L/min.

The effect site concentration of propofol and inhaled concentration of sevoflurane were adjusted to maintain bispectral index monitoring (BIS) value at 40 to 60 under inhalation of oxygen at 1 L/min and air at 3 L/min. Patient observation was done in the emergence phase, the recovery phase, and 24 hours after discharge.

The authors reported that time to emergence was shorter with sevoflurane anesthesia than with propofol anesthesia, but they found no difference in time to full recovery.

No participants in the propofol group reported nausea or vomiting during the recovery phase, while three of 20 in the sevoflurane group did. The average time to discharge was slightly faster for the propofol group (169 ± 45 minutes compared with 176 ± 48 minutes). The authors also reported no differences between the groups in time to first meal or fluid, on telephone follow-up about 24 hours afterward.

When asked on follow-up about satisfaction and preference, the 16 patients said they would choose propofol, and four said they would choose sevoflurane in the future . . .

Read more from the study here . . .

If you're phobias are getting in the way of your preventative care, don't hesitate to talk with your dentist about your options. Learn more at dentaloasisofoc.com/preventive-dentistry/

Image Credit

Sedation Dentistry Depends on a Number of Factors was first published on: http://dentaloasisofoc.com/

Wednesday, January 25, 2017

Going into Healthcare in a Low-Income Community? Consider Dental Therapy

If you are planning on going to school or rethinking your career path, you may want to consider dentistry. Like many other health sectors, there is certainly a need; but unlike other sectors, Americans want to see their dentists more than other practitioners:

Dentists Top the List of Health Practitioners Americans Want to See More Of

Here is some interesting information that was discovered by Delta Dental Plans Association. It seems that Americans would like to see a dentist more often than they currently do [dentists at 41%, dermatologists at 28%, gynecologists at 25%, etc]. The study is full of some really interesting stats and, being a bit of a “stat hound”, I was fascinated by some of the information presented. Here are 3 really interesting data points:

79% of American adults agree there is a connection between oral health and overall health

Adults who are extremely satisfied with their oral health rate there overall wee-being [sic] as very good (48%), compared to those who report they are not satisfied (28%)

63%feel that good oral health helps them feel confident on a daily bases [sic], more so than having clear skin (56%) or being in shape (50%)

Read more at John Flucke's blog here . . .

While both a "want" and "need" are in your favor for this career path, Dr. Brian Browne says that many dental services--even ones on Medicaid--were dropped on people's insurance policies. So even if people need and want care, they may have to find alternative routes.

Dr. Browne says that if more basic services could be provided, then low-income families wouldn't have such severe problems when they finally are able to see a dentist. You can learn more about this issue in the following video provided by abcnews.com:

[embed]http://video-cdn.abcnews.com/120228_BROWNE_DENTAL.mp4[/embed]

One possible solution--if you want to work in a low-income community--is to look at dental therapy training. Like hygienists or nurses, dental therapists play more supportive roles at a dentist's office. They are also able to provide the most commonly needed services, such as teeth cleanings. Although some people are hesitant about their credentials since dental therapists aren't as common in the U.S. as other countries, these people are trained to handle a variety of pediatric and preventive procedures. If there were more dental therapists to help, many treatments could be more affordable.

Drbicuspid reported a survey recently that says that many U.S. voters support this occupation and its benefits:

Survey: 80% of U.S. voters support dental therapists

Americans overwhelmingly support the concept of dental therapists, according to the results of a recent phone survey. Interviewers asked thousands of registered U.S. voters if they would like a new type of midlevel provider similar to a nurse practitioner, and 80% of respondents said yes . . .

Critics are concerned that dental therapists will not provide the same standard of care as a dentist. They also tend to be skeptical that therapists can increase access to dental care or reduce costs.

Meanwhile, proponents of midlevel providers point to evidence that dental therapists effectively reduce untreated caries, not only in the few U.S. states that have approved their use but also abroad. In addition, support for midlevel providers appears to be gaining momentum.

To learn more about dental career paths, talk with professionals at dentaloasisofoc.com/preventive-dentistry/ for tips or to get a feel for different services.

Image Credit

The following blog post Going into Healthcare in a Low-Income Community? Consider Dental Therapy was first published to: http://www.dentaloasisofoc.com/

Friday, January 20, 2017

Mouthwash Has Many Benefits . . . in Moderation

Mouthwash products have come a long way over the years. While many people just use them to cure bad breath, they can be used to

clean nooks and crannies missed by flossing/brushing
kill bacteria that decay teeth
re-mineralize enamel
whiten teeth
reduce inflammation, or early gingivitis

And drbicuspid.com posted a study recently that showed that mouthwashes (specifically Listerine) could actually reduce bacteria responsible for STIs:

Can Listerine prevent STIs? Researchers want to find out

Rinsing with the antiseptic mouthwash Listerine for one minute can significantly reduce the prevalence of gonorrhea-causing bacteria, according to a new study. Now, researchers want to know whether Listerine can also help prevent the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

"If Listerine has an inhibitory effect against N. gonorrhoeae in the pharynx, it could be a cheap, easy to use, and potentially effective intervention for gonorrhea prevention and control," wrote the authors, led by Eric Chow, MPH, PhD. Chow is a senior research fellow at the Melbourne Sexual Health Clinic.

With all these positive attributes, you may think that there are no side effects of mouthwash. However, these products still need to be taken in moderation. According to another drbicuspid article, mouthwash not only kills bad bacteria, but good bacteria as well:

What do you tell your patients about mouthwash?

Yes, I tell them antibacterial mouthwash kills bacteria. Yes, bacteria can cause gum disease. Yes, you should want healthy gums.

But you know that bacteria serve many purposes in the mouth, when the good bacteria balance out the bad kinds. Healthy gums are dependent on a healthy balance of bacteria. One underrated bacterial benefit is to allow a specific pathway of digestion to occur that is critical for health.

Mouth bacteria

When bacteria are killed indiscriminately, both harmful and good bacteria are killed, and the mouth's delicate balance of bacteria goes awry. This means that tooth decay and gum disease may be more likely to occur.

To address their concerns, I talk with my patients about the benefits of mouth bacteria and the unique role they play in the chemical pathway of certain foods. Specifically, the chemical pathway of "nitrate-to-nitrite-to-nitric oxide" is dependent on specific anaerobic bacteria in the mouth . . .

So I tell my patients, if you kill the bacteria in your mouth and on your tongue with antiseptic mouthwash, salivary nitrates wouldn't be converted into nitrites. With less nitrites in your system, you would produce less beneficial nitric oxide.

So perhaps mouthwash moderation is key. But, it seems that this article also makes a point of saying that you can still use mouthwash as long as you replace good bacteria and take in foods that can produce nitric oxide (e.g. leafy greens).

For more information about other preventative dentistry methods, look at dentaloasisofoc.com/preventive-dentistry/

Image Credit

Mouthwash Has Many Benefits . . . in Moderation is republished from: Dental Oasis Dental Blog

How Does GERD Affect Senior Patients’ Oral Health?

Everyone's heard of heartburn, and often associate the symptom with large meals and certain foods (e.g. fried and fatty foods). While it's true that diet does come into play for heartburn, the symptom can be the beginnings of a larger issue: gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

When you swallow food, it goes from the esophagus to the stomach. At the bottom of the esophagus there is a valve that opens when you swallow and then closes after. But when this valve becomes weaker or becomes stuck (like in the case of a hernia), stomach acid can splash back up and damage the lining. In severe cases, you may regurgitate food and even have stomach acid come back up in your throat and mouth. You can learn more about the basics in the following video:

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdK0jRFpWPQ[/embed]

While GERD can happen to anyone, even babies, it is quite common in the aging population. According to NCBI, those in their 50s, 60s, 70s, or 80s have physiological changes that can make it difficult to sense acid in the esophagus, so they may not get help until damage has already been done.

And besides being horrible for the digestive tract, GERD can be horrible for seniors' oral health since it can cause dry mouth (which can lead to the growth of bacteria) and since regurgitated acids can wear down enamel. Making sure senior patients don't have GERD is imperative since this demographic already struggles with tooth wear due to aging:

Oral issues you need to be aware of as you get older

Wearing down enamel

All the chewing, grinding, and hard impact that your teeth are put through over the years can take a real toll on their health. Not to mention any breakages, chips, or other trauma your teeth may have been exposed to which may result in even worse consequences down the line. Over time your teeth are gradually worn down from continued use or from damage, and this erosion diminishes the hard protective outer layer of teeth – the enamel – which cannot be naturally regained once it’s lost.

To combat enamel loss, be aware of habits that may be speeding up damage done to your teeth and try to stop them as soon as possible. These habits included chewing ice or other hard things like pens and pencils, grinding your teeth, clenching your jaw, and playing high impact sports without an athletic mouthguard. If you are prone to unconscious teeth grinding or clenching, ask your dentist about being fitted for a mouthguard you can wear while sleeping to protect your teeth. Frequent consumption of highly acidic foods such as fruit juices, citrus fruits, coffee, and soft drinks is also a culprit for enamel erosion as the acids eat away at the protective layer. Try to substitute water for acidic beverages and brush your teeth 30 minutes or so after consuming acidic foods to stop the acids from attacking your teeth before they can start. Since the acids weaken enamel, waiting before brushing is important to avoid causing extra harm.

As you can see, 123dentist.com has some good tips for reducing additional tooth wear. GERD can also be managed with certain lifestyle choices. The main issue is that many seniors need to take medications as they age--many of which can cause dry mouth and GERD as symptoms. One way to combat the issue is through salivary stimulants, according to John Flucke's dental tech blog:

Study Shows OraCoat® XyliMelts® Oral Adhering Discs Effectively Treat Acid Reflux

Gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD), more commonly known as acid reflux, describes a chronic digestive condition in which an accumulation of stomach acid in the esophagus creates symptoms. Acid reflux affects about 30 percent of the population on a weekly basis and is known to contribute to or cause a number of medical and dental problems including heartburn, sore throat, laryngitis, cough, halitosis, and tooth decay. The condition is also associated with sleep disturbance and can have a negative effect on nighttime comfort and overall quality of life.

The study aimed to prove if XyliMelts, recently rated by a Clinicians Report^® survey as the most effective remedy for alleviating dry mouth^† could produce similar results in treating patients suffering from acid reflux, which is often managed by prescribed and over-the-counter medications that prevent excessive acid production . . .

XyliMelts are formulated from all-natural ingredients commonly used in foods. As tests prove that salivary stimulants can decrease the perception of nighttime dry mouth, tests also suggest increased saliva can diminish nighttime reflux . . . Test results displayed that both the disc and gel reduced the taste of reflux, heartburn sensation, morning hoarseness, perceived reflux severity, and the number of antacids taken during the night.

Read full blog post here . . .

Salivary stimulants can decrease dry mouth, which in turn allows saliva to take care of any regurgitated acids. Along with this solution it is important for seniors to still see their dentists regularly for preventative cleanings. Teeth cleaning and fluoride treatments are vital for strengtehing any enamel that has been worn down by acid. Take a look at dentaloasisofoc.com/preventive-dentistry/teeth-cleaning/ for more information.

Image Credit

The post How Does GERD Affect Senior Patients’ Oral Health? is available on: www.dentaloasisofoc.com

Friday, January 13, 2017

Seniors Should Focus on Oral Cancer Prevention

The dental school at UCSF published an interesting article yesterday that discusses the side effects of radiation therapy for head/neck cancers--namely the loss of saliva production. However, they've been able to rebuild these structures again in mice--hopefully success in human study participants will follow one day!

In the meantime, those who've undergone this kind of treatment still have to deal with permanent dry mouth. Why is this such a problem? They've exchanged one oral health problem for another. Even if oral cancer goes into remission, permanent dry mouth means that individuals don't have the body's natural mouth-cleaning agent anymore; and, they may need to stay on medication to mitigate the possibility of tooth decay and periodontal disease. Dry mouth is just one "small" issue of oral cancer, patients my have to undergo treatments to remove portions of their tongue, voicebox, or even jaw tissue.

Because oral cancer can cause such devastating effects, even after treatment, patients--especially high-risk seniors--need to know what they are facing and what to look for:

Oral Cancer: What You Need to Know

Oral cancer is the sixth most common cancer, accounting for 30,000 newly diagnosed cases each year – and 8,000 deaths. If not diagnosed and treated in its early stages, oral cancer can spread, leading to chronic pain, loss of function, facial and oral disfigurement and even death.

Who gets oral cancer?

Anyone can get oral cancer. Heavy drinkers and people who smoke or use other tobacco products are at higher risk. Though it is most common in people over age 50, new research indicates that younger people may be developing oral cancers related to human papillomavirus (HPV).

Early detection can save

The good news? The earlier oral cancer is detected and treated, the better the survival rate – which is just one of the many reasons you should visit your dentist regularly. Twice-yearly dental checkups are typically covered with no or a low deductible under most Delta Dental plans.

As part of the exam, your dentist will check for oral cancer indicators, including feeling for lumps or irregular tissue in your mouth, head and neck. A biopsy will be recommended if anything seems concerning or out of the ordinary.

You can learn more about oral cancer screenings at dentaloasisofoc.com/preventive-dentistry/oral-cancer-screenings/

Even though this cancer is common in seniors (and those who drink or smoke heavily), the good news is that it doesn't have to get out of hand. Dental prevention is key. So what's the bad news? The bad news is that only a minuscule amount of American seniors actually has dental care that could help prevent cancer:

Infographic: U.S. Seniors Lack Dental Care

A new study published in the December edition of Health Affairs analyzed access to dental care for Medicare beneficiaries, and the findings don't look good. Only about 10% of older U.S. adults have dental insurance, and, of those who do, they still pay half of all their dental costs out of pocket.

The researchers looked at Medicare data to see how seniors with different income levels and types of insurance access dental care. They attributed the overall lack of coverage and high percentage of out-of-pocket spending to larger policy trends, including the exclusion of dental care in Medicare and the changing of insurance benefits for retirees.

"Despite the wealth of evidence that oral health is related to physical health, Medicare explicitly excludes dental care from coverage, leaving beneficiaries at risk for tooth decay and periodontal disease and exposed to high out-of-pocket spending,"

"Until dental care is appropriately considered to be part of one's medical care, and financially covered as such, poor oral health will continue to be the 'silent epidemic' that impedes improving the quality of life for older adults."

Dentists and insurance providers should work closely with their patients on flexible payment plans and policies. And patients need to be educated and more concerned about their oral health as they age. No one should have to suffer such severe symptoms and treatments when they could have easily been checked out by a dentist in the beginning!

Image Credit

The article Seniors Should Focus on Oral Cancer Prevention is courtesy of: Dental Oasis Dental Blog