Bridge Smiles Dental Group P.A.

Tuesday, February 13, 2018

Alcohol and Oral Cancer

At Bridge Smiles Dental Group, we provide treatment for a number of oral health issues, but our preferred approach is prevention. To help combat oral cancer, we wanted to pass along new findings from the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) linking cancer to use of alcohol.


According to the ASCO’s new study, use of alcohol increases the risk of cancer, including of the mouth and throat, by about 5%. This number is inclusive of alcohol when used in light or moderate amounts, although heavy drinking appears to be riskier. The rate was unchanged by the amount of alcohol consumed. While doctors have long warned of the dangers of drinking and smoking, this study was different in that it examined drinking in isolation. The exact reason alcohol is linked to oral cancer remains unknown, but the researchers suspect that the breaking down and rebuilding of the soft tissues of the mouth increases the risk of DNA getting miscopied, resulting in cancerous growths.


Not all the news from the ASCO is bad. While alcohol is associated with many types of cancer, the damage it does to the aerodigestive tract is reversible. When people quit drinking, their risk for oral cancer declined to the level of people who never drank.


Drs. Meghadri and Grewal run Bridge Smiles Dental Group at 820 US Hwy 202 North Neshanic Station, NJ, and 15 North Bridge St. Somerville, NJ. To schedule an appointment, visit Bridge Smiles Dental.


 

Wednesday, February 7, 2018

Lip Care in Winter

With more winter weather to look forward to, we at Bridge Smiles Dental Group want to make sure our patients, and especially, those wearing braces, know how to care for their lips. Cold air cannot retain much moisture and high winds make some chapping likely, but there are precautions which can reduce the risk of irritation to the mouth’s soft tissues.


Outside, the only real option is to keep a scarf wrapped tightly around the face, but inside, you can make some modifications to the environment. It’s a good idea to have a humidifier in the bedroom and anywhere else you need to spend a long time. Avoid hot, long showers, since they dry the skin out faster. Applying lip balm several times a day, including before bed is helpful as long as you’re not allergic to the ingredients. If your lips get red and swollen after applying the balm, check the ingredients for menthol and switch products.


Since the air is drier this time of year, people who suffer from dry mouth are going to be particularly at risk. Any sort of breathing issue which could be contributing to dryness needs to be investigated. Avoid wetting the lips with saliva, since saliva evaporates quickly, taking more moisture with it. If you have braces and are suffering from irritation, they should apply dental wax to their brackets in large quantities. Do not attempt to protect the lips by folding them under the teeth, as this will further inflame them and may cause tooth migration.


Drs. Meghadri and Grewal run Bridge Smiles Dental Group at 820 US Hwy 202 North Neshanic Station, NJ, and 15 North Bridge St. Somerville, NJ. To schedule an appointment, visit Bridge Smiles Dental.