gum disease – Oral Cancer News

How to look after your teeth in midlife and beyond

Source: sheerluxe.com Author: staff Our teeth and gums go through as many changes as the rest of our body as we age, yet our daily dental routine is often something we ignore. There are also several health risks associated with poor mouth hygiene, so we asked the experts what to watch out for and how to tweak our dental regime. This is what they told us. Watch Out For Changes As we get older, our teeth and gums go through lots of changes, some that are inevitable and a natural part of ageing, and others that can be avoided. “Tooth wear and receding gums are the main issues as we age,” says Dr Mahsa Nejati, general and cosmetic dentist and founder of the Nejati Clinic and MAHSA oral products. When this occurs, it’s the enamel, or the protective outer layer of the tooth, that’s being worn away, which is problematic because it shields the rest of the tooth from cavities and damage. “As we get older our enamel can wear down and become thinner and this can expose the inner part of your tooth called dentine,” explains Dr Tom Crawford-Clarke, general and cosmetic dentist, owner and founder of LUCE. “Dentine is not as hard wearing and therefore does not offer as much protection, making teeth more susceptible to developing future problems. As the enamel wears down and thins, it unfortunately becomes more susceptible to chipping and breaking.” In addition to being more structurally vulnerable, the dentine itself is darker than [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2024-02-20T08:12:51-07:00February, 2024|Oral Cancer News|

Silk and stem cells are being used to generate salivary glands

Source: biotechin.asia Author: Manish Muhuri Saliva is a watery substance secreted by the salivary glands located in the mouth. Saliva is essential for good health, as it assists in speaking, swallowing, food digestion, preventing oral infections in addition to many other tasks. Without normal salivary function the frequency of dental caries, gum disease (gingivitis), and other oral problems increases significantly. Location and types of salivary glands in humans. Image Courtesy : Wikimedia Commons Dysfunction or reduction in activity of salivary glands can be caused by many factors, including diabetes, radiation therapy for head and neck tumors, aging, medication side effects, and Sjögren’s syndrome. Sjogren’s is an autoimmune disease where the body attacks its own tear ducts and salivary glands. Patients suffering from this disease have severely dry mouth. No treatments are currently available for dry mouth. Salivary glands, unfortunately, have very little regenerative capacity. The title must have left you wondering about the correlation between silk and saliva – what do they have in common? They are both actually part of a unique experiment going on in San Antonio, a study that could change the lives of millions of people who suffer from dry mouth. Chih-Ko Yeh , BDS, Ph.D., and Xiao-Dong Chen, MD, MS, Ph.D., of the UT Health San Antonio School of Dentistry decided there had to be a better way to help people than try to develop drugs and figured that stem cells may help solve a common, painful problem. Yeh said the idea is [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2017-01-30T12:36:05-07:00January, 2017|Oral Cancer News|

E-cigarettes ‘just as harmful as tobacco’ for oral health

Source: www.medicalnewstoday.com Author: Honor Whiteman Electronic cigarettes are often marketed as a safer alternative to conventional cigarettes. When it comes to oral health, however, new research suggests vaping may be just as harmful as smoking. Researchers suggest vaping may be equally - if not more - harmful for oral health than smoking. In a study published in the journal Oncotarget, researchers found that the chemicals present in electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) vapor were equally as damaging - in some cases, more damaging - to mouth cells as tobacco smoke. Such damage can lead to an array of oral health problems, including gum disease, tooth loss, and mouth cancer. E-cigarettes are battery-operated devices containing a heating device and a cartridge that holds a liquid solution. The heating device vaporizes the liquid - usually when the user "puffs" on the device - and the resulting vapor is inhaled. While e-cigarette liquids do not contain tobacco - a highly harmful component of conventional cigarettes - they do contain nicotine and other chemicals, including flavoring agents. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the use of e-cigarettes has increased in recent years, particularly among young people. In 2015, 16 percent of high-school students reported using the devices, compared with just 1.5 percent in 2011. E-cigarettes are considered by many to be safer than conventional smoking, but because the devices are relatively new to the market, little is known about the long-term effects of vaping on health. In particular, study leader [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2016-11-18T07:33:06-07:00November, 2016|Oral Cancer News|

FDA Clears First Tobacco Product for Marketing

For the first time since it was given the power to regulate tobacco, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized marketing of a new product. The agency said that eight new smokeless snus products, to be sold in the United States under the "General" brand name by Stockholm-based Swedish Match AB, are now authorized under the premarket tobacco application pathway, which was established by the 2009 Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. Snus cannot be marketed as "FDA-approved," however. "Today's action demonstrates that the premarket tobacco application process is a viable pathway under which products can be marketed, as long as the public health can be protected," said Mitch Zeller, director of the FDA's Center for Tobacco Products, in a statement. This is the first time any tobacco maker has completed the rigorous premarket tobacco application review process at the agency; others have had products approved by proving they are substantially equivalent to what is already on the market. The agency said that Swedish Match provided evidence that "these products would likely provide less toxic options if current adult smokeless tobacco users used them exclusively." The agency also agreed with the company that snus' availability would not result in substantial new use, delay quit attempts, or attract ex-smokers. Swedish Match had been seeking separately to remove warnings that snus is harmful, but the agency has not yet ruled on that request. In that separate application, Swedish Match was seeking to have the 10 types of snus it [...]

Charlotte Parker2015-11-13T15:25:42-07:00November, 2015|Oral Cancer News|

Researchers Find Hookah Smoking Can Lead to Serious Oral Conditions – Equivalent To Smoking 100 Cigarettes

Source: www.multivu.comAuthor: PR Newswire CHICAGO, Oct. 28, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2.3 million Americans smoke tobacco from pipes, and many of those who smoke waterpipes, or hookahs, believe it's less harmful than cigarettes. However, research published in The Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA) suggests hookah smoking is associated with serious oral conditions including gum diseases and cancer. "We found that waterpipe smoking is associated with serious health problems affecting the head and neck region," said study author Teja Munshi, B.D.S., M.P.H of Rutgers University. "The public needs to know they are putting themselves at risk. They should be made aware of the dangers of smoking hookahs." The authors conducted a literature review that focused on waterpipe smoking and head and neck conditions. They found waterpipe smoking to be associated with gum diseases, dry socket, oral cancer and esophageal cancer among other conditions. According to the World Health Organization, smoking a hookah is the equivalent of smoking 100 cigarettes, based on the duration and number of puffs in a smoking session. "This study sheds light on the common misconception that smoking from a waterpipe is somehow safer than smoking a cigarette," said JADA Editor Michael Glick, D.M.D. "Whether you are smoking a cigarette, an e-cigarette, a cigar, or tobacco from a waterpipe, smoking is dangerous not only to your oral health but to your overall health." The American Cancer Society is hosting The Great American Smokeout on November 19, 2015, an annual event that encourages [...]

Charlotte Parker2015-10-29T12:32:23-07:00October, 2015|Oral Cancer News|

Five reasons to schedule a dental exam today

Source: www.theintell.com Author: Raquel Braemer Often times we can get caught up in our day-to-day life, neglecting things like routine check-ups. Until, of course, a problem arises. An aching tooth requiring an immediate appointment and possibly requiring time off from work or even an unexpected trip to the Emergency Room. We all know we should make time for routine dental exams. But - if you need some motivation to pick up the phone - here are 5 reasons to schedule that appointment today. 1. 9 in 10 Adults Have Cavities. A recent study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that 91% of adults ages 20-64 had cavities. Further, 1 in 4 adults had untreated tooth decay. 2. Complications with Diabetes. If you are one of nearly 30 million Americans reported to be suffering from diabetes according to the American Diabetes Association, you are also at risk of developing gum disease. Working with a dentist to develop and maintain good oral health practices could help you control your diabetes. 3. Early Detection of Oral Cancer. The American Cancer Society reports that 39,500 Americans are expected to get oral cancer in 2015. Your dentist's chair is often the first place these cancers of the tongue, tonsils, and gums can be identified. Early detection and treatment are critical to survival. 4. Good Oral Health Means Good Overall Health. Studies continue to show that good oral health has correlations to reduced risk of diabetes, arthritis, stroke, and heart disease. In fact, [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2015-09-02T07:28:35-07:00September, 2015|Oral Cancer News|

Mouth bacteria trigger oral cancer

Source: www.digitaljournal.com Author: Tim Sandle Chemicals released from two bacteria that cause gum disease can incite the growth of deadly lesions and tumors in the mouth, trigger oral cancer. This is according to a new study carried out by Case Western Reserve University. High levels of certain bacteria found in the saliva of people are associated with the risk of oral cancer. The researchers were keen to understand why most people never develop oral cancer and what it is that protects them. Their answer related to most people not carrying a certain type of bacteria in their mouths. The cancer of concern is Kaposi's sarcoma-related (KS) lesions and tumors in the mouth. The bacteria associated with this are the species Porphyromonas gingivalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum. These species are associated with gum disease. For the research, scientists recruited 21 patients, dividing them into two groups. All participants were given standard gum-disease tests. The first group of 11 participants had an average age of 50 and had severe chronic gum disease. The second group of 10 participants, whose average age was about 26, had healthy gums. The bacteria were common to those with gum disease. By carrying out further tests, the researchers found that the bacteria produce fatty acids and these fatty acids then allowed oral cancer causing viruses to grow. The discovery could lead to early saliva testing for the bacteria. When such bacteria are found the mouth of a patient could be treated and monitored for signs of cancer and [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2014-03-09T21:58:39-07:00February, 2014|Oral Cancer News|

Study links gum disease, HPV-status of head and neck cancer

Source: www.buffalo.edu/ubreporter Author: Sara R. Saldi Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), once almost exclusively associated with cancer of the cervix, is now linked to head and neck cancer. Furthermore, according to a new UB study just published in the Archives of Otolaryngology—Head & Neck Surgery, a JAMA publication, gum disease is associated with increased odds of tumors being HPV-positive. Primary investigator Mine Tezal, assistant professor of oral biology in the School of Dental Medicine, and a team of scientists from UB evaluated data from 124 patients diagnosed with primary head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) between 1999 and 2007. “The aim of the study was to test the presence of periodontitis, a persistent inflammatory process and HPV-status of HNSCC,” Tezal says. Of the 124 tumor samples Tezal and her team studied, 50 were positive for HPV-16 DNA and that subjects with HPV-positive tumors had a significantly higher severity of periodontitis when compared to subjects with HPV-negative tumors. According to the National Cancer Institute, there has been a steady increase in the prevalence of oropharyngeal cancers in the U.S. since 1973. This is despite the significant decline in tobacco use since 1965, a year after the U.S. Surgeon General issued the landmark Report on Smoking and Health. Tezal notes that this increase has mainly been attributed to oral HPV infection. Understanding the natural history of the oral HPV infection and targeting factors associated not only with its acquisition but also with its persistence, says Tezal, will lead to more effective strategies, [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2012-06-22T21:24:45-07:00June, 2012|Oral Cancer News|

Tobacco use and baseball

Source: www.quitsmokingforyou.com Like cigarettes, smokeless tobacco (snuff and chewing tobacco), cause mouth cancer, gum disease, and heart disease. Yet many think that chewing tobacco is safe or less so than smoking. This is not true! In 1986, the Surgeon normal closed that the use of smokeless tobacco “is not a safe substitute for smoking cigarettes. It can cause cancer and a whole of noncancerous conditions and can lead to nicotine addiction and dependence.” Since 1991, the National Cancer institute (Nci) has officially recommended that the group avoid and desist the use of all tobacco products, including smokeless tobacco. Nci also recognizes that nitrosamines, found in tobacco products, are not safe at any level. Chewing tobacco and baseball have a long tight affiliation, rooted in the cultural confidence among players and fans that baseball players chew tobacco and it is just part of the grand old game. This mystique is slowing changing with campaigns by ballplayers who have had or have seen friends with mouth cancer caused by chewing tobacco use. Jeff Bagwell Jeff Bagwell, retired first baseman with the Houston Astros and Joe Garagiola, a previous baseball player and commentator, campaign against tobacco use among children and addicted adults. In 1993, when Bagwell was 25-years-old, his dentist discovered leukoplakia, a whitish pre-cancerous sore in his mouth where he continually located chewing tobacco. About 5% of leukoplakias institute into cancer. Fortunately this did not happen to Jeff Bagwell due to the early detection by his dentist. Rick Bender, The Man Without [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2012-06-04T20:47:24-07:00June, 2012|Oral Cancer News|

If teeth could talk…

Source: wsj.com Author: Melinda Beck The eyes may be the window to the soul, but the mouth provides an even better view of the body as a whole. Some of the earliest signs of diabetes, cancer, pregnancy, immune disorders, hormone imbalances and drug issues show up in the gums, teeth and tongue -- sometimes long before a patient knows anything is wrong. There is also growing evidence that oral health problems, particularly gum disease, can harm a patient's general health as well, raising the risk of diabetes, heart disease, stroke, pneumonia and pregnancy complications. "We have lots of data showing a direct correlation between inflammation in the mouth and inflammation in the body," said Anthony Iacopino, director of the International Centre for Oral-Systemic Health, which opened at the University of Manitoba Faculty of Dentistry in Canada in 2008. Recent studies also show that treating gum disease improves circulation, reduces inflammation and can even reduce the need for insulin in people with diabetes. Such findings are fueling a push for dentists to play a greater role in patients' overall health. Some 20 million Americans -- including six percent of children and nine percent of adults -- saw a dentist but not a doctor in 2008, according to a study in the American Journal of Public Health this month. "It's an opportunity to tell a patient, 'You know, I'm concerned. I think you really need to see a primary care provider,' so you are moving in the direction of better health," said [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2012-01-02T06:53:06-07:00January, 2012|Oral Cancer News|