Steps You Can Take to Prevent Oral Cancer

According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, more than 34,000 Americans will be diagnosed with oral or pharyngeal cancer this year. It will cause more than 8,000 deaths, killing roughly 1 person per hour, 24 hours per day. Of those 34,000 newly diagnosed individuals, only half will be alive in 5 years. Mouth cancer will be newly diagnosed in about 100 new individuals each day in the US alone, and a person dies from oral cancer every hour of every day. This is clearly something we need to pay attention to.

People can develop oral cancer from using tobacco or abusing alcohol. Exposure to the HPV-16 (human papilloma virus 16) can cause oral cancer. To prevent oral cancer, be sure to abstain from smoking or excessive drinking.

In addition to prevention, early detection is key to treating oral cancer. During your routine cleanings and exams, Roselle Park dentists and hygienists offer an oral cancer screening with ViziLite - technology that helps us see abnormal tissue in the mouth. I'd recommend that patients have a complete soft tissue exam with ViziLite at least once a year. The oral cancer foundation claims that oral cancer is 90% curable when found in its early stages. Schedule a check up today by calling 908-245-1745 or visit Roselle Park Dental.com for more information to ensure you stay healthy and cancer-free.

New Year, New You

The turning of the calendar year always brings a time of personal reflection. As we all take a few moments to think about our experiences last year, we make resolutions to change or improve upon certain aspects of our lives in the new year. Unfortunately, these resolutions are often fleeting. How many times have we vowed to eat better or exercise more regularly, stick to our guns the first few weeks, and then fall off the proverbial horse in February.

So this year, instead of making a resolution, I am going to make an evolution. Small, slow changes that I am more likely to sustain over the long-term. My New Year's evolution is to be even more healthy in 2010. I am truly dedicated to improving my well-being so that I can ward off disease and illness more effectively and quickly, slow the signs of aging, and have more energy.

For Christmas, I received a juicer as a gift. Several days a week, I place apples, organges, pears, kale, bell peppers, beets, carrots, and any other produce I have in the refrigerator into the juicer and out comes a healthy, all-natural mood and energy booster. I plan on making juicing an important part of my life. It is one single, managable step I can make in 2010 to improve my health.

I encourage you to make your own New Year's evolutions - not resolutions! If your evolutions include enhancing your smile or keeping your gums healthy as part of a new and improved you, please contact me to discuss your options. You can also visit my Website to learn more at Roselle Park Dental.com. Good luck!