• 3/30/2005
  • Toronto, Ontario, Canada
  • Newswire Canada (www.newswire.ca)

Stick out your tongue at your dentist. It’s good for your health!

A visit to your dentist is good for your health and well-being. That is the message being delivered to Ontario communities by the Ontario Dental Association in April, which is Oral Heath Month.

This year, ODA-member dentists are undertaking a wide range of programs across the province. An important element is the ODA’s oral cancer awareness program which is designed to raise public awareness of a potentially fatal disease. Last year, there were more than 3,100 new cases of oral cancer diagnosed nationally, accounting for approximately 2.1 percent of all new cancer cases in Canada.

To reach younger audiences, the ODA and ODA-member dentists are also
sponsoring the Brush-a-mania challenge designed to improve the oral health habits of elementary school students.
“No matter what your age, oral health is important to your overall
health,” said Dr. Steve Goren, President of the Ontario Dental Association. “Dentists are part of your primary health-care team.”

This year, the ODA’s oral cancer awareness efforts include an outdoor
advertising campaign in 11 Ontario communities to increase public awareness. This disease has a greater mortality rate than either breast cancer or prostate cancer. ODA-member dentists are also conducting oral cancer checks at select shopping malls across the province.

For schoolchildren, the ODA is teaming up with the Rotary Club and the
Toronto Dental Academy to bring the Brush-a-mania program to about 35,000 students at 120 elementary schools throughout Ontario. Its purpose is to educate and motivate children, and to bring together dentists, Rotarians, teachers and parents about oral health care at a fun and educational school event. Brush-a-mania launches on April 8 in most participating schools.

To lean more about these programs and other Oral Health Month activities in your local area, contact the Ontario Dental Association, or visit the Ontario Dental Association web site: www.oda.on.ca.

The Ontario Dental Association (ODA) and its 6,400 members are committed to providing exemplary oral health care. The ODA is a voluntary professional association representing more than 80 percent of Ontario dentists. As Ontario’s primary source of information on dental health and the profession, the ODA has been enhancing public awareness of the importance of oral health since 1867. The ODA works with health-care professionals, governments and the private sector to attain the highest possible quality standards of health care
for Ontarians.

ORAL CANCER INFORMATION

The oral cancer examination performed by your dentist during a routine
dental visit is a fast, easy and painless way to detect cancer early and save your life.
Did you know?

– Recent studies show that oral cancer is rising in women, young
people and non-smokers. More than 25 percent of oral cancers occur
in people who do not smoke and have no other risk factors.
– Smoking and chewing tobacco are major risk factors for oral cancer.
Dentists are involved in clinical tobacco intervention programs and
can recommend a variety of programs and prescribe medication to
assist their patients who wish to quit.
– Normally, the cells of the mouth are quite resistant to damage.
However, the ODA wants people to be aware that repeated injury
from smoking and alcohol may cause sores or painful areas where
cancer can start. If left untreated, oral cancer has the potential
to spread to the lymph nodes and lungs.
– The five-year survival rate for oral cancer is low, at just below
50 percent. However, early detection results in the five-year
survival increasing sharply to 80 percent.