Yes, Oral pH Matters
April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month. The average age that people get diagnosed with oral cancer is 62 years old, and around 25% of cases happen before the individual reaches the age of 55. This diagnosis impacts so many Americans, and we want to provide you with more information on the causes, symptoms, and treatments of oral cancer. WHAT CAUSES ORAL CANCER? Cancer occurs when there is a genetic change to the body that causes cells to begin growing without control. Evidence of mouth cancer can increase if you … EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ORAL CANCER April Is Oral Cancer Awareness Month
HAS SPRING BROUGHT BUGS INTO YOUR HOME?
Get Rid of Them With These Hacks
When the weather warms up, bugs infiltrate homes across the country. Once it happens, you’re often left scrambling to your local hardware store to get the necessary pesticide or bug deterrent. Unfortunately, many pesticides and traps postpone the problem rather than solve it entirely. The good news is that you can fix many insect problems without having to test random products you find at the store. Certain household items do a magnificent job at preventing, deterring, and sometimes even killing bugs. If you’re worried about bugs infesting your home this spring, give these methods a try. LEMON OIL The last thing we want to see in our homes is a cockroach. A popular urban legend says that cockroaches can survive a nuclear explosion, so you probably can’t keep them out of your home. Plus, many of the products you can buy to kill or deter cockroaches are extremely toxic, so setting them out is dangerous if you have pets. Instead, put a few drops of lemon oil into the water you use to mop the floor. Cockroaches hate the smell. People won’t notice the scent, and you’ll be cockroach-free before you know it. PEPPERMINT OIL Spiders are one of the more common pests we see in our homes. Even though the majority of these spiders are not harmful (and actually eat other insects), most people still do not want them in their houses. Peppermint oil is a natural repellent. It doesn’t kill spiders, but it keeps them away. Add 5–10 drops of peppermint oil into 3/4 cup water mixed with 1/4 teaspoon of liquid detergent to create a harmless mixture that will keep spiders at bay. CINNAMON Another common pest that can be a nightmare to get rid of is ants. Once you notice ants getting into your home, they appear to be endless and can be found in just about every corner of the house. Ants hate the smell of cinnamon and will avoid areas with the scent. Sprinkle some cinnamon near the areas where they are entering your house and watch them disappear.
• Smoke or chew tobacco • Regularly consume excessive amounts of alcohol • Have a history of head or neck cancer
WHAT ARE THE SIGNS? Although doctors are unsure why these changes in your cells occur, possible symptoms can include: • Leukoplakia: These are white patches on your tongue that do not disappear after brushing. • Oral lichen planus: This is when the white patches on your tongue develop a reddish border around it.
If oral cancer does begin to develop, you may notice:
• Pain, bleeding, or numbness around your mouth • Loose teeth or swelling of the jaw • Difficulty chewing, swallowing, or moving your tongue or jaw
ARE THERE ANY TREATMENTS? You can try four types of treatment if you have oral cancer.
• Surgery: A doctor can recommend this to remove a tumor. Surgery can involve removing parts of your tongue, jawbone, and lymph nodes. • Radiation therapy: Oral cancers are sensitive to high-energy X-rays, which can prevent the tumor cells from reproducing. • Chemotherapy: If cancer spreads to areas other than your mouth, your doctor may recommend chemotherapy along with radiation therapy. • Hyperthermia therapy: This uses heat to damage and kill cancer cells. This will also make cancer more sensitive to radiation therapy. At Anderson Dental, we care about you and your health. Therefore, we include screenings during your annual examination. If you or a loved one has symptoms or has been diagnosed with oral cancer, allow us to help you. We can look at your symptoms and suggest the proper treatment moving forward.
2 • WWW.ATOWNDENTAL.COM
Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator