Oral Cancer: What You Don’t Know Could Kill You

In our childhood, we learn that brushing our teeth and making regular trips to the dentist are important for beautiful smiles and healthy mouths. Many adults don’t realize that it’s just as important for them to continue to get dental care as an adult as well. Not only is good oral health key to preventing oral cancer, but it is also vital to good overall health for the whole body.

Dr. Raymond Gist, DDS, a dentist at Valley Dental, explains how medical studies over the last several years have clearly shown the two main ways that good oral health contributes to good overall health.

First, studies have concluded that serious illnesses can be caused by bacteria and organisms that live in the mouth. These include heart and major organ disease, infections in joint implants, premature births, and oral cancer. Second, many people don’t realize that our mouths can often reveal the symptoms of several serious illnesses, including type 2 diabetes and oral cancer.

“Significant portions of the population in communities throughout the country don’t realize that a healthy mouth is required in order to have a healthy body,” said Gist, who serves on the Genesee Health Plan’s Oral Health Coalition. “Dental care and oral hygiene are not just cosmetic extras. They are essential to long-term health. That is the reason that dental care is a core element of the Genesee Health Plan.”

Dentists play an especially important role in detecting oral cancer, according to Gist. Early signs of oral cancer include symptoms that people could easily ignore or dismiss as something that will get better on its own. These include a sore red or white spot on the tongue, gums, or cheeks that won’t go away. These symptoms could signify a precancerous lesion. A persistent sore throat, teeth that loosen regardless of consistently good hygiene or difficulty swallowing could also be warning signs.

The best way to avoid oral cancer is never to start smoking, Gist said. Tobacco 21 initiative supports this goal. By raising the age when young people can legally buy tobacco from 18 to 21, Genesee County is preventing young people from developing this deadly habit and the related health problems caused by smoking.

Here are some additional ways to make sure you have healthy teeth and a healthy body:

• If you smoke or use smokeless tobacco, get help from GHP to stop. GHP offers smoking cessation programs for its members and for the parents of children in Flint Public Schools. Smoking is the cause of many dental problems and the main cause of oral cancer.
• Better yet, never start smoking. At GHP we are committed to reducing the number of smokers, and one way is to make sure young people never start. We supported the Genesee County’s Tobacco 21 to raise the age when young people can legally buy tobacco from 18 to 21. Genesee County is preventing young people from developing this deadly habit and the related health problems caused by smoking.
• Schedule regular checkups with your dentist and keep your appointments. They aren’t optional. They are essential for good health.
• Get to your dentist right away if you notice any changes, like spots, sore throat or loose teeth.  Don’t dismiss seemingly small symptoms if they persist and won’t heal.
• Take good care of your teeth. Brush at least twice a day and flossing regularly. These simple steps can prevent bacteria that cause serious overall health problems.

Want more information about the importance of a healthy mouth? Watch our Medical Minute featuring Dr. Traci Dantzler, Executive Director of the Genesee District Dental Society, and Dr. Gist to learn how good oral health leads to good overall health. You can also learn more about Genesee County’s Tobacco 21 Initiative by listening to our recent interview with Kay Doerr, chairman of the GHP board and chairperson for the Genesee County Board of Health.

Read an article written by Dr. Dantzler that was published in the Journal of The Michigan Dental Association about how dentistry stepped up to help Flint residents andhelp address the potentially serious health issues they continue to face.