Practicing Daily Oral Cancer Prevention,
What have you done for yourself today? When we think about treating ourselves, oral cancer prevention doesn’t even make the list. Some people think about having a cigarette, or an evening at the bar with friends, to help them unwind from a stressful day. While others head outside, to soak up the sun. Oddly, both may be putting themselves at risk of oral cancer.
It may seem like an overreaction, especially to say that soaking up some vitamin D outdoors is a bad thing, I agree. If you decide to take all of the advice given in this article to heart and cut out all negative stimuli, you may do your body more damage from the constant worry and stress. That is not our goal, daily oral cancer prevention is not a guarantee, but these tips will help you reduce your chances of contracting oral cancer.
Tobacco
Avoid tobacco at all costs, it’s bad for your teeth, lungs, jaw, brain… pick a piece of anatomy. Tobacco is cancerous, whether chewed or smoked it’s not going to do you any favors. The dental repairs alone, even without oral cancer are extensive and can become very expensive.
Alcohol
Few Americans would listen if we gave the same warning for alcohol as for tobacco, so instead, keep your drinking to a minimum. The harder the alcohol, the worse it is for your body. You might be able to justify mild drinks, like beer and wine, but again only in moderation. And again, the damage to your teeth from red wine, just to name one, can be expensive to repair. We’re trying to avoid one of the worst, ugliest, most visible and debilitating cancers ever to afflict mankind, the less alcohol you drink, the better.
UV Exposure
Yep, I was serious, this is an actual hazard. Again, does this mean that you should lock yourself in a small white walled room and curl up in the fetal position? No, remember that stress causes both cancer and heart disease, the number one killer of adults in the US. Too much of anything can be bad for you, with sunshine you run the risk of severe burns, melanoma and other types of skin cancer.
Fruit and Vegetables
The American Institute for Cancer Research came out with a study showing the benefit of fruits and vegetables on cancer prevention. They recommend eating beans, cabbage, broccoli, dark green leafy vegetables, garlic, grapes, flaxseed, soy and tomatoes. The vitamins, antioxidants and other benefits of natural food will give your overall health a boost, and healthy people are always less likely to contract cancer.
Check Ups
Make sure you come in for your regular cleanings, and anytime something feels wrong inside your mouth. Early awareness and corrections will keep your mouth healthier and can prevent far more than cavities. If you’re not sure that your Dentist is checking for signs of cancer, ask and see what he or she has to say. Information is powerful, and the more you know the less you will need to worry about “what if”.
I hope these tips have been helpful. If you know a little more now than you did before, these steps will be easy to take action on and you will be able to breathe a little easier. The more you know and apply about oral cancer prevention, the less you have to be afraid of.
We’ll see you in the chair!
Image Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whisky
https://www.flickr.com/photos/dani0010/7884166484/