Tooth and Heart
If you have a history of tooth and gum diseases or cavities you might be at a greater risk for heart disease. The germs from mouth may enter the blood stream causing blockage that may lead to heart disease.
Introduction
Tumour is an abnormal growth of any part of body and serves no purpose and have no control. It may be of benign (innocent) or malignant (dangerous) variety. Oral tumour may be benign or malignant and arises from the soft tissue lining of the oral cavity. Oral cancer is one of the ten leading cancers in the world. In India, it is one of the common cancers. The word ‘cancer’ is a generic term that compasses all malignant tumours. A malignant rumour is a tumour which kills patients, if unrecognized or improperly treated.
Early Diagnosis of Oral Lesions
Early diagnosis of oral pre-cancerous lesions can greatly reduce oral cancer mortality rates. The term exfoliative cytology of the oral lesion is very easy to perform. The edge of a moistened tongue blade is used to scrape the suspected area. The sample is then transferred to a glass slide and forwarded to microscopic evaluation in the laboratory. This process is a quick, simple, painless and bloodless procedure. It must be noted that this biopsy method is not a substitute for scalpel biopsy. Scalpel biopsy is an invasive procedure, normally used only when clinical features, typical of malignancy are present.
Causes of Oral Cancer
1. Solar Rays—Exposure to sunrays. Labourer and sailors are affected mostly on lip and skin.
2. Tobacco—Smoking, betelnut and tobacco Chewing.
3. General Disease—Syphillis-tongue affected.
4. Leukoplakia—White sports in the oral cavity.
5. Dental Factors—Jagged & crocked teeth.
6. Deficiency of Vitamin
7. Immune Power Lowered
8. Arsenic (Toxic Agents)
9. Socio-economic Factors—Underdeveloped nation and unattended health care.
The research scientists have found out presence of suppressor gene which fights cancer in the body. If this gene is absent, the cancer activity is increased. Moreover, the absence of the suppressor genes in a person could cause oral cancer at some later stage.
Primary And Secondary Treatment of Oral Cancer
Primary Treatment
There are only two recognized methods of treatment for oral and facial cancer—surgery and irradiation. They may be used separately or in combination. The judgement and experience of the specialists consulted are important. The objectives in the treatment of oral cancer should be the maintenance of as nearly normal life as possible for the longest period of time.
Secondary treatment
After the patient has been treated primarily by either surgery or radiation, secondary care is frequently necessary. Treatment should not be considered complete until there is a satisfactory restoration of both function and appearance. Various complications of oral tissues and teeth and gum may arise which need attention. The dentist can play an important part in the patient’s oral care.
Steps to prevent cancer
1. Do not smoke or chew tobacco.
2. Avoid high alcohol intake.
3. Regular check-up by physician.
4. Perform self-examination of testicles or breast.
5. Eat more fibre, fruit and vegetables.
6. Reduce dietary fat.
7. Maintain normal weight.
8. Get regular exercise.
Smoking
Tobacco smoking is an aerosol like insect spray or loom doe doriter- -composed of invisible particles dispersed in gas. The deadly mixture contains lot of chemical compounds of which 43 are cancer producing. Most scientists consider passive smoking more dangerous to non-smokers than active smoking, which is filtered through some one else.
You can see even the difference : the smoke that spills from a smoker’s is pale and yellowish and the smoke that curls from a lighted cigarette is blue grey. Some of the poisonous agents in smoke are carbon monoxide: the gas in car exhausts, that people use to commit suicide; hydrogen cyanide; the chemical used to gas criminals on death row; formaldehyde, otherwise know as emblamina fluid; and nicotine, a deadlv insecticide.
Suffering from smoking
Periodontal (disease of the gum) is very slow (silent) disease of the gum tissue and underlying bone. It can affect even younger people who have the habit of smoking. The smokers are more at risk for gum disease than non-smokers.
Pre-cancerous oral lesions
The term “Pre-cancerous” must be used with certain qualification. It is well known that cancer of the mouth is sometimes associated with Leukoplakia, fissures, chronic ulcers and warts. In the cancer susceptible patient, these lesions, after adequate irritation, may undergo malignant change. Not all such lesions, however, will become cancer, so that to use the term pre-cancerous may be condemning a non-guilty lesion. It is impossible to determine which of the precancerous lesions will remain benign and which will become malignant. Therefore, it is a good practice to remove at once for microscopic examination those doubtful lesions which are apparently benign but are subjected to chronic irritation or show signs of change.
Leukoplakia
No discussion of cancer of oral cavity would be complete without a consideration of Leukoplakia. It may occur on lip, buccal cavity in the throat area, gum, palate or on the tongue. It may be single spot or may cover large area. Any patient with Leukoplakia should be checked for the three “S”: (1) Smoke (2) Spirits (3) Spices.
Oral submucous fibrosis :
Oral submucous fibrosis is a precancerous condition causing mucosal rigidity. The person is unable to open mouth fully. Betelnut with or without tobacco, chillies, nutritional deficiency states, genetic susceptibility, immunity disorders are factors associated with the disease.
Examination of tongue
The tongue is a muscular organ situated in the floor of mouth. The normal colour is pink. Normally it accomodates itself in the lower jaw with lower teeth. Small coating is normal on the tongue. Any variation like size, position, movement and colour of tongue should be observed and treated with the help of physician.
Syphilis
Osier called syphilis “the great immitators” because of its protein manifestations. It is said that if one knows syphilis in all of its manifestations, one will know of all of medicine. To a lesser degree that is true of the oral muscoal lesions. The common mode of infection is through sexual intercourse with an infected partner.
Oral signs
• Ulcer on the lips, tongue and most of oral tissues.
• Mucous patches.
• Severe pain in the head and neck.
There is an old proverb ‘The tongue has the power of life and death, and whosoever loves it will eat its fruit.”
The Salivary Glands
Normal salivary flow is important because of its mechanical cleansing action. It has germ destroying action. Location of salivary glands, major parotid glands are below the ears. The minor gland is in the floor of mouth.
The obstruction of salivary flow is due to infection like mumps or stone in the salivary duct.
Mumps is an acute, highly contagious viral disease. There is painful parotid glands enlargement with headache, fever and stomach upset.
Treatment of mumps is general, supportive therapy. The obstruction of salivary flow due to stone causes discomfort and swelling; the treatment is chiefly by means of surgery.
When to see a dentist for canker (ulcer)
If you are prone to multiple canker sores and if they last for more than ten days, you must see a dentist. If lingering, sore that does not hurt should be checked by a dentist to rule out oral cancer.
It is one of the world’s most interesting mysteries; what causes canker sores? Some people say stress is the culprit, but researchers have never been able to pinpoint what causes these pesky mouth ulcers.
What you can do to ease the pain :
1. Avoid spicey and acidic foods; they irritate sore spots. Also steer clear of fried delicacies like chips and toast.
2. Before eating, apply counter irritant over the ulcer which will form a film over the sore, safeguarding it from the dangers of the dinner. The protection should last for two to three hours.
3. To numb the sore, suck on ice cube or use benzocaine.
4. Soothe the area by rinsing your mouth twice daily with half teaspoonful of salt dissolved in a cup of water.
5. Brushing with plain baking soda is also less likely to inflame mouth tissue.