Visiting Weinstein Periodontics on a regular basis will not only help keep your teeth and mouth healthy, but will also help keep the rest of your body healthy as well. The fact is, according to the Oral Cancer Foundation, close to 40,000 Americans will be diagnosed with oral or pharyngeal cancer this year, resulting in more than 8,000 deaths. Men face twice the risk of developing oral cancer as women, and men who are over age 50 face the greatest risk. . The American Cancer Society recommends an oral cancer screening exam every three years for people over the age of 20 and annually for those over age 40. Because early detection can improve the chance of successful treatment, be sure to ask Dr. Elliot Weinstein to conduct an oral exam during your next visit to our office.

The five-year survival rate is only 50 percent, and oral cancer, which is the sixth-most common diagnosed form of the disease, is one of the few cancers whose survival rate has not improved. Today, Dr. Weinstein and our team would like to take this opportunity to remind all of our patients about the importance of maintaining good oral hygiene to prevent the disease.

So, what can you do at home to take an active role in preventing oral cancer?

Visit our Toronto,ON office on a regular schedule. The American Cancer Society recommends an oral cancer screening exam every three years for people over the age of 20 and annually for those over age 40. Because early detection can improve the chance of successful treatment, be sure to ask us to conduct an oral exam during your next visit to our office.

1. Conduct a self-exam regularly Using a bright light and a mirror, look at and feel your lips and gums. Try tilting your head back and look at and feel the roof of your mouth, as well as pulling your cheeks out to look inside of your mouth, the lining of your cheeks, as well as the back gums. Pull out your tongue and look at all surfaces and feel for lumps or enlarged lymph nodes in both sides of your neck and under your lower jaw. And please give us a call immediately if you notice any changes in the appearance of your mouth or any of the signs and symptoms mentioned above.

2. Don’t smoke or use any tobacco products and drink alcohol in moderation. (Refrain from binge drinking.)

3. Eat a well-balanced diet. This includes eating a wide variety of foods from the 5 primary food groups on a daily basis to meet the recommended amounts of vitamins, minerals, carbohydrate, protein and fat you need in a given day.

4. Limit your exposure to the sun. Repeated exposure increases the risk of cancer on the lips, especially the lower lip. When out in the sun, be sure to use UV-A/B-blocking sun protective lotions on your skin as well as your lips.

Please let us now if you have any questions about your oral health either during your next scheduled appointment, by giving us a call or asking us on Facebook.