It is something that many people do not want to think about. Known as ‘the big C’, cancer can and does occur commonly in the mouth, and due to lifestyles such as smoking, drinking alcohol and consumption of certain foods, it is an unfortunate fact that oral cancer is on the rise in countries like the UK and America.

And it is also a key reason why you should always aim to attend your biannual checkups, as your dental team will include an oral cancer screening as part of a general assessment.

At Amsel & Wilkins, our dentist in Banbury will always aim to provide you with a thorough dental assessment, ensuring that any abnormal growths or patches of skin are explored and that you leave our clinic with a clean bill of health or an appropriate treatment plan.

But what are some of the signs of oral cancer that you can detect at home? Here, our dentist in Banbury provides a brief list of things to look out for.

Sores on the lips or mouth

It is worth noting that oral cancer can initially present on the lips, tongue, gums or tonsils. So when you are brushing or flossing your teeth, it is worth assessing all of these areas if possible. If you have sores on your lips or in your mouth that are not healing, you should aim to book an appointment with our dentist in Banbury as soon as possible, as this can be a tell-tale sign of oral cancer.

You should also have any cold sores that recur in the same part of the mouth examined by our dental team.

Lumps or bumps inside the mouth

When most people hear the word cancer, they think of a lump or bump. While most lumps and bumps inside the mouth can be benign, if you spot one on your inner lip, your gums, your tongue or the roof of your mouth, you should book an urgent dental appointment with our team.

If we have concerns, as mentioned earlier, we will refer you to a specialist who can perform a biopsy.

Ear pain

When you were younger, you may recall being told that if you had an earache, it may be due to an issue in your mouth or with one of your teeth. Unfortunately, recurring ear pain with no obvious cause can point to oral cancer. This is usually because a growth may be putting pressure on the nerves that are shared by your mouth and ears.

Once again, if you do suffer from ear pain with no obvious cause, you should see our team.

Loose teeth

Statistically speaking, loose teeth in adulthood are more likely to be caused by reversible disorders like gum disease. However, if you do not have gum disease and your teeth are wobbling, this can indicate that there is another issue in your mouth that is destroying the tendons and gum tissue.

White or red patches

Much like the recurring ulcers or sores, if you have patches in your mouth that physically feel different when you run your tongue across them and appear red or white, then you will need to see our team. These symptoms can be the early stages of a cancerous lesion.

The dangers of smoking cigarettes are known the world over. And while you may be fed upto your back teeth (pun intended) of hearing about the disadvantages of smoking, it may be worth exploring the advantages of quitting this habit instead.

As you may have guessed, smoking does not only cause issues with your general health but also wreaks havoc on your dental health, which can cause long-term issues with self-esteem, loose teeth and, of course, chronic yellowing of the enamel. None of these are things that somebody should aim to have.

At Amsel & Wilkins, our dentist in Banbury is happy to provide our patients who smoke with smoking cessation advice to help them get their dental health back on track and, of course, improve their life and other aspects of their well-being. Great stuff!

But what are some of the advantages that are to be had from quitting smoking on your dental health? Here, our dentist in Banbury provides some answers.

Gum health

Gum disease is the leading cause of missing teeth in adults. While you may have heard that gum disease is caused by plaque, it can be worsened by smoking. This is because the chemicals in cigarette smoke attack the gum tissue and cause it to deteriorate or mutate. Smoking can also destroy the tendons, which can cause issues with the stability of your teeth.

Therefore, according to our dentist in Banbury, a key advantage of quitting smoking is having healthier, pinker gums that are less susceptible to periodontal disease.

Whiter teeth

There are no two ways around this; if you smoke cigarettes or cigars, your teeth will feel the pinch, specifically relating to colour. Many people know of someone who smokes cigarettes excessively and has yellowing teeth, which is not something that is cosmetically appealing and can hinder self-esteem.

By quitting smoking and maintaining good oral hygiene, these stains can be removed, providing you with a healthier-looking and whiter smile.

Fresher breath

In a similar vein, smoking also causes very bad breath, due in part to dehydration and reduction in saliva in the mouth.

So rather than spending a fortune on chewing gum and continuing to smoke, it may be worth giving up the habit altogether to allow your mouth to stop being so dry and enable your saliva to do its job and keep your mouth hydrated and your breath fresher.

Lowered oral cancer risk

The risks between smoking and cancer are nothing new but, if you are a smoker, you will need to attend dental checkups more regularly for our team to assess your mouth for signs of oral cancer.

These can vary from anything from lumps to sores that will not heal to loose teeth. But by quitting smoking, you can reduce your risk of developing oral cancer by 70% over 2 years.

Longer lasting teeth!

Following on from gum disease and its links to oral cancer comes longer lasting teeth. If you do develop gum disease, and if it is aggressive or left untreated, the likely outcome is that your teeth will fall out. By quitting smoking, you reduce the risk of developing aggressive gum disease, and your teeth will likely last longer.