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Every hour of every day, someone in the United States dies of oral cancer, the sixth most common diagnosed form of the disease. The five-year survival rate is only 50 percent, and oral cancer is one of the few cancers whose survival rate has not improved.

This grim statistic may make you think that oral cancer is a particularly deadly form, when in fact the high death rate has more to do with how late in its development oral cancer is detected. Routine screening is the key to early detection and survival, and in our continuing efforts to provide the most advanced technology and highest quality care available to our patients at Weaver Dentistry, we proudly screen our patients for oral cancer.

So, who’s at risk for oral cancer?

Anyone can develop oral cancer, but some people are at a higher risk. These high-risk groups include those over the age of 50 and men, who are twice as likely as women to develop the disease. Smoking or chewing smokeless tobacco products, consuming alcohol excessively, and constant exposure to the sun at a young age are also risk factors.

How is oral cancer detected?

Dr. Gregory Weaver and our team at Weaver Dentistry suggest our patients perform a monthly self-examination to check for unusual red or white patches, sores, lumps, or thickenings anywhere inside the mouth, on the lips, or in the throat and neck area.

We encourage you to give us a call at our convenient Raleigh, NC office if you find any of these symptoms or if you have trouble swallowing or experience a chronic sore throat and hoarseness. During your visit, Dr. Gregory Weaver will inspect the oral tissues and neck to determine if abnormalities are present.

What happens if oral cancer is detected?

If we discover abnormal tissues during your visit, a biopsy will be required. The results from the biopsy will be sent to a laboratory to determine if the cells are cancerous or precancerous. If a diagnosis of cancer is made, surgery, as well as treatment such as chemotherapy or radiation may be necessary. Dr. Gregory Weaver and our team will work closely with your oncologist and other members of your medical team to ensure that you achieve the best possible oral health care both during and after treatment.

Finding out you have oral cancer can be devastating news. If you are concerned that you might be at risk for developing oral cancer, talk to us about screenings and other things you can do to reduce your risk. Through a routine visual inspection, Dr. Gregory Weaver and our team at Weaver Dentistry can often detect premalignant abnormalities and cancer at an early stage when treatment is both less expensive and more successful, and can potentially save your life. Ask us about a screening during your next visit!

When it comes to keeping your smile looking its best, good oral hygiene is a must! Good oral health habits should start early and continue throughout your lifetime. Here, Dr. Gregory Weaver and our team at Weaver Dentistry suggest five habits worth adopting that will help keep your teeth healthy:

• Brush and floss regularly. Brush gently at least twice a day, paying special attention to the gum line to rid your mouth of food and bacteria that may lurk in between your teeth. Floss at least once a day. Replace your toothbrush every three to four months or sooner if the bristles are frayed.
• Make regular visits to see Dr. Gregory Weaver. Regular checkups (twice yearly) will help diagnose any dental problems early on when they can be more easily treated.
• Stop smoking. Did you know smokers are four times as likely as nonsmokers to develop periodontal (gum) disease? Tobacco, whether in the form of cigarettes, pipes, cigars, or chewable tobacco, increases oral and throat cancer risks, and raises the risk for candidiasis, an oral fungal infection. Smokeless tobacco contains sugar, which furthers your risk for cavities.
• Limit your alcohol intake. Heavy drinking dramatically increases the risk of developing mouth and throat cancers.
• Eat healthy. Avoid snacking on foods that contain high levels of sugar or starch. We encourage you to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, which are known to help stimulate the flow of saliva to re-mineralize tooth surfaces and neutralize cavity-causing bacteria.

To learn more about the habits you should practice in between your visits to Weaver Dentistry, or to schedule an appointment, please give us a call today!

Dentists generally aren’t the first professionals people think about when they experience facial pain, but our team utilizes TruDenta systems, which have been designed to relieve headaches, migraines, jaw pain, or facial pain. Through proven, state-of-the art technologies in advanced dentistry and medicine, you can finally get the headache and migraine relief you’ve been searching for.

If you experience recurring headaches and muscle aches due to tension from jaw clenching, grinding, and popping, you may want to discuss TruDenta® treatment options with our practice. Within your head and mouth is a complex network of muscles, tendons, joints, and bones, which create forces that, when improperly balanced, can lead to chronic headaches and jaw clenching.

As a TruDenta practice, we are specially trained to examine and diagnose these forces that affect your teeth and your overall health. TruDenta uses modern technology to examine the opening and closing of your mouth to better evaluate the forces within your head, neck, and jaw. A specialized device will calculate the motion of your head and neck. These comprehensive exams determine a series of painless treatments that are adapted from sports medicine therapies and customized to your particular needs.

The result is healthier teeth and gums, as well as lasting relief from headaches without the dependence on painkillers. If you’ve been suffering from headaches, tooth grinding, or jaw tension, please give us a call at our office and schedule a consultation today.

Thank you for taking the time to visit our blog. Please check back often for weekly updates on fun and exciting events happening at our office, important and interesting information about dentistry and the dental industry, and the latest news about our practice.

Feel free to leave a comment or question for our doctor and staff – we hope this will be a valuable resource for our patients, their families, and friends!