Keeping your teeth clean and free from plaque by brushing and flossing can help to prevent tooth decay and gum disease and can keep your mouth looking clean and healthy, but cleaning alone is not enough to prevent all dental problems. As well as a strict and effective dental hygiene routine it is also essential that you keep up six-monthly appointments at the dentist.

The dentist will be able to spot any signs of decay or disease that may be happening even if you clean effectively. It is often the most hard to reach places that are the main areas of decay and dentists can monitor and clean these difficult spots to keep teeth as healthy as possible. Dentists are also able to spot the first signs of more serious problems such as oral cancer or infection.

As well as seeing a dentist, it may be a good idea to see a dental hygienist. They are becoming more and more common in the UK as they allow the dentist more time to focus on their caseload and allow patients a more direct and focused cleaning appointment. Hygienists can offer thorough dental cleaning as well as liaising with the dentist to develop a more effective cleaning plan.

Most City of London dentists will now offer a dental hygienist as part of a regular six monthly check up service. It is not advised that you go longer than six-months between appointments unless your dentist has advised it for some reason. Some patients may need to see the dentist more regularly.

Oral cancer can be a particularly unpleasant and painful disease that can often be fatal if not diagnosed and treated in time. In most instances, cases of oral cancer are first spotted and diagnosed by dentists who are specially trained to recognise the first signs of the disease. By keeping up regular appointments at the dentist you are far more likely to catch oral cancer in its early stages and stand a greater than 80 per cent chance of successful treatment.

Common causes of oral cancer are smoking, especially heavy smokers of more than 20 a day. Heavy alcohol consumption is also a high risk factor and the effects of both are magnified when combined. Smokers are 24 times more likely to suffer from oral cancer than non-smokers.

Age is also an important factor with patients over 50 being more likely to contract the condition. And men are almost three times as likely to suffer than women. However, it is worth remembering that in 25 per cent of cases of oral cancer the patient had none of the high-risk qualities. Oral cancer can strike at any time, which again emphasises the need for regular dental check ups.

The symptoms are usually white or red sore spots on the lining of the mouth or lips, which do not disappear naturally after two or three weeks. The spots can be very sore, not unlike mouth ulcers, making eating, drinking and even talking very difficult. Other signs include an unexplained change in voice or weight loss.

The only sure fire way of beating oral cancer is to visit a City of London dentist every six-months for a check up. If you have any suspicious sores in the mouth or other symptoms make an appointment to see a dentist as soon as possible.

There are a number of very important reasons why you should keep up regular dental check ups with a London dentist. Reasons that could have a very beneficial effect on your overall health.

According to the Oral Cancer foundation, someone dies every hour from oral cancer, a statistic that could be prevented by earlier detection of the disease, leading to more effective treatment. Dentists are fully trained to spot the early signs of oral cancer including unexplained bleeding and painful sores. It could just make the difference between life and death.

Perhaps less seriously but no less important, dentists are also able to examine patients for the first signs of gum disease, which can cause painful irritation and has several links to heart disease. Gum disease can occur even in healthy mouths and early treatment can prevent a range of more serious dental problems that could occur as a result. Similar to gum disease is dental decay, which can also be present in patients with excellent hygiene regimes. Prompt treatment of decay prevents the formation of dental cavities that cause painful infections and abscesses, which in turn lead to tooth loss.

Having a healthy mouth and teeth can be a sign of a healthy body as many bodily infections can begin in the oral cavity, and likewise any problems in the body can usually be detected by some change or unusual activity in the mouth. Bad breath could be the sign of inadequate cleaning but it could also indicate a more serious digestion problem that may need treatment.

Regular check ups are obviously important for maintaining good oral health. Dentists can treat any sign so of decay early and thoroughly clean the teeth to prevent any more, but a dentist can also be the first clinician to spot many other health concerns. Make an appointment to see a London dentist as soon as possible for the sake of your teeth and your whole body.

Oral cancer can be fatal if not caught at a sufficiently early stage. If detected early enough, oral cancer patients stand a greater than 80 per cent chance of survival. Therefore it is very important that you have any suspicious sores examined as soon as possible. Another key defence against oral cancer is to keep up regular six-month dental appointments. Dentists are trained to spot the signs of oral cancer and are also able to perform swab biopsies on any suspicious areas as part of a check up.

Oral cancer is considered to be any cancer that affects any part of the mouth including the lips, tongue and throat. It usually appears as sores on the lining of the mouth or throat, not unlike mouth ulcers, but that do not disappear naturally after a period of two weeks.

Certain groups are at a higher risk than others with men being twice as likely to suffer from the condition as women. Patients who smoke excessively are a massive 600 times more likely to develop oral cancer as non-smokers. Patients who drink heavily are also at a greater risk of the condition. However, it is important to remember that oral cancer can affect anybody at any time regardless of lifestyle, so you can never be complacent.

The sores are usually a deep red or white colour and are sensitive to touch and especially hot and cold food. They are usually very painful and make it difficult to eat, drink or even speak. Oral cancer may also manifest itself in the unexplained bleeding of the gums or weight loss.

There are more symptoms than described here so it is always wise to visit a dentist if you are unsure about any activity in your mouth. Any unexplained soreness or patches in the mouth can easily be examined by a dentist and with cancer it is always better to be safe than sorry. Make an appointment every six-months with a Central London dentist and protect yourself from oral cancer.

Oral cancer usually manifests itself as sores on the inside of your mouth, which resemble mouth ulcers but don’t disappear after a couple of weeks. Oral cancers, which include all cancers in the oral cavity, including lips, tongue and throat can be life-threatening if not caught early so keeping up regular appointments with your dentist, or having any suspicious sores examined as soon as possible is highly recommended.

Certain factors mean that people are at a greater risk of contracting oral cancer. Men are twice as likely to suffer as women, especially men over the age of 50. People who drink or smoke excessively are at particular risk, with smokers being a massive 660 times more likely to suffer from oral cancer than non-smokers. However, it is important not to be complacent about oral cancer as it can effect people who neither smoke nor drink at all.

The sores associated with oral cancer usually appear as white or red patches in the lining of the mouth. It is also common for there to be unexplained bleeding of the lining of the mouth and even the gums. The sores will make it very difficult to carry out everyday activities like eating, drinking or talking without suffering pain. There are other signs that you may be suffering with oral cancer like a sudden or unexplained weight loss.

There are of course more symptoms, many of which can be very subtle so it is always wise to consult a dentist if you have any suspicious sores. A Central London dentist will be able to carry out a brush biopsy, a painless swab for testing, as part of a regular check up. They are also well trained in the signs and symptoms of oral cancer so they can be your first line of defence. Early detection of oral cancer can give you a greater than 80 per cent chance of survival.

It is an often-used adage that prevention is better than cure. Nowhere is this more true than when it comes to looking after your teeth. As anyone who has suffered from any kind of dental problem, ranging from toothache to gum disease, will tell you, it really does pay to keep your teeth clean and healthy.

The easiest way to do this is to have regular six-monthly dental check ups, as advised by dentists. No matter how busy you are, or how frightened you may be, a regular check up with your dentist could save you years of dental related pain, not to mention thousands of pounds.

All sorts of problems can arise with your teeth if you do not visit your dentist on a regular basis. Even patients who brush correctly twice a day, and floss regularly, can develop dental problems they may not be aware of until it is too late. A tooth infection can very quickly develop into an abscess or spread to other teeth in the mouth if not picked up early enough by a dentist. In some circumstances, an infection may be so deep rooted that it will lead to the tooth itself dying and falling out. In extreme cases, a dental infection can cause a wider infection in the body and lead to heart disease and even heart failure. It really is not worth running the risk for the sake of half an hour every six months.

A regular appointment will help to catch these problems early, or even before they arise. For patients who have suffered toothache but believe it to have gone away, it may only be that the infection has killed the nerve endings in the tooth, thus stopping the pain. Only a dentist will be able to diagnose and locate these sorts of problems.

Dentists will also be able to spot the onset of various forms of oral cancer, including cancer of the tongue and throat. An early diagnosis of oral cancer means an 80 per cent or greater chance of survival. Missing the symptoms altogether leads to the unthinkable. City of London dentists will be able to thoroughly examine patients for tooth decay, gum disease and oral cancer as part of a regular check up appointment. Prevent dental problems and save yourself the pain, cost and possible heartache of having to treat them.

Next to brushing, flossing is the most important method of maintaining healthy teeth and good oral hygiene. Millions of bacteria can live in the gaps between your teeth, especially on particles of food that are lodged there. Flossing is crucial in removing these particles that are breeding grounds for nasty bacteria which can cause tooth decay, bad breath and other assorted oral health problems.

If these areas are not regular cleaned the bacteria will eventually produce acid, which will eat into tooth enamel and cause cavities. It will also produce foul smelling sulfurous compounds which are the major cause of embarrassing bad breath.

The bacteria live in a substance called plaque, which is made up of mucus and other debris. Brushing can get rid of plaque but often misses harder to reach places such as between the teeth and below the gumline. Flossing regularly can ensure that these harder to reach areas are kept clean and prevent the build up of plaque.

If plaque is not removed by brushing or flossing it will eventually harden into a substance called tartar which can only be removed by a dentist. If tartar is left to build up it can produce nasty toxins which can cause gingivitis, a disease that causes painful irritation of the gums. Eventually, this can lea to the erosion of the bone structure that hold the teeth in place and will result in tooth loss. There is a also evidence to suggest that flossing regularly can prevent oral cancer and other cancer in the body.

The American Dental Association recommends flossing the teeth at least once a day. For advice on how to floss your teeth properly consult your London dentist who can show you how to protect your smile for a lifetime.

It is said that cancer is completely curable if detected at the initial stages. But most people are still unaware of the symptoms and hence tend to ignore them even though they are right in front of them. Cancer is indeed lethal but the effect it has on the individual’s mental make up is what worsens the situation.

So when it comes to preventing and detecting oral cancer all you need to do is to go for periodic dental checkups at your nearest dental clinic in London. A dental checkup has the dentist looking for any possible anomalies in your mouth which would cause problems in the future. Plus if you smoke and drink, dental checks should be Numero Uno in your priority list.

Whenever you go for a dental checkup, the dentist checks the soft tissues and gums for possible signs of tumours. In certain cases the patient is asked to go for an X-ray if the doctor wants to ascertain his deductions. Fear, ignorance and lack of knowledge among users are the factors that make oral cancer all the more complicated. Routine dental checkups are painless and come cheap and it is always better to be examined by professionals. Individuals already suffering from other forms of cancer must definitely make it a point to visit their dentist for a checkup as they are most susceptible to oral cancer.

Early detection and preventive measures can guarantee you a cancer free life. Normally a surgery involving the removal of the tumor ensures a normal lifetime thereon. Abstaining from alcohol, smoking and a regular intake of vitamins and supplements, along with a healthy diet, is all that it takes to keep oral cancer at bay.

As with many other forms of malignancy, oral cancer is easiest to manage when it is caught early. Therefore, when you undergo screening for oral cancer, it can literally save you life. In many cases, when you visit a London dentist, he/she will provide routine screening during your yearly dental exams. If you have not been screened for oral cancer, you may want to ask your dentist to take care of this as quickly as possible.

In order to detect oral cancer, your dentist will need to find out about each type of tissue in you mouth. For example, your dentist may take swabs from the inner surface of your cheeks in order to look for malignant cells. Your dentist may also want to use x-rays to look for bone malignancies. As may be expected, if you have lumps or other lesions on your gums, it may be necessary to take a tiny sample to see what is causing the aberrant growth.

Regardless of whether or not you want to know about existing malignancies, hiding from the truth will serve no purpose. Without a question, the malignancy will only continue to progress to other parts of your body. Even though you may not like the idea of going for cancer therapy, at least it will give you a chance to live a normal life once the malignancy is arrested.

Today, the rates of cancer are skyrocketing in almost every category. While there are no cures for advanced cases, many people that find out about their malignancy early are cured. As a result, you should always make sure that you have screening for oral cancer on a regular basis. This will help ensure that you have the best chance possible for enjoying a long, happy life.

There is no question that being diagnosed with cancer can be a frightening experience. Nevertheless, the longer you wait to find out about a tumor, the less chance you have of making a full recovery. Unfortunately, ignoring cancer or refusing to go for screening won’t make the disease go away. Today, you can have oral cancer screening during routine exams to your London dentist.

Each year, hundreds of thousand of lives could be saved if people went for a handful of cancer screening exams. Without a question, if you wouldn’t put off pap exams or PSA screening, there is no need to put off having an oral cancer exam. Typically, your dentist should be able to detect signs of malignancy in gum tissue, as well as in other soft tissue of the mouth. If X-rays are performed, your dentist may also be able to pick up tumours in the jaw.

As you may be aware, many people are afraid to find out about cancer because of the kinds of treatments that are used. That said, most people don’t realize that chemotherapy and radiation are must be used when a malignant tumour shows signs of spreading. On the other hand, if a tumour is caught before it shows certain signs, surgical removal may be enough.

If chemotherapy or radiation is needed in these situations, the doses and number of treatments are so limited that you may not have one single side effect from them. Therefore, if you are afraid of a cancer diagnosis because of the treatment options, you will find that many things have changed over the years. Unfortunately, the dangers associated with untreated malignant cells has not changed. As a result, finding out about oral cancer early on may just save your life.