Periodontal Disease
If not removed, plaque can harden into tartar which leads to a gum disease called periodontal disease. Periodontal disease severely affects the bone and gums that support and keep teeth in their place. Periodontal disease can lead to weakening the gums and ultimately to tooth loss. Periodontal disease is not reversible, so regular oral hygine and check up is crucial.

Oral Cancer

Oral cancer is any abnormal growth and spread of cells occurring in the mouth cavity including the: Lips, Inside of the lips and cheeks, Tongue, Gums, Floor of the mouth, and Roof of the mouth. Oral cancer can be successfully treated if caught at an early stage. If not treated early, the cancer can spread to other parts of the body and it then becomes more difficult to treat.

There are many risk factors associated with developing oral cancer:

• Age. People over the age of 50 have a higher risk of developing oral cancer.
• Men are more susceptible than women.
• Smoking or using tobacco products increases the risk, especially if combined with high alcohol consumption.
• High consumption of alcohol, especially if combined with smoking, increases the risk.
• People whose lips are exposed to the sun on a regular basis.
• A diet low in fruits and vegetables.

The signs and symptoms of oral cancer:

• Sores in the mouth that do not heal within 2 weeks
• Dark red or white patches in the mouth
• Lumps located on the lips, tongue or neck
• Bleeding in the mouth
• Sore throat and difficulty with swallowing

This entry was posted on Sunday, November 16th, 2008 at 7:24 am and is filed under Oral Health. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.