Oral cancer is a serious illness that is more likely to occur in people who smoke or chew tobacco, or drink heavily. Other risk factors include sun damage, and any previous head or neck cancer, and early detection is very important to improve outcomes.
Good oral hygiene and dental care are the best ways to prevent oral cancer, and following our tips below can help you to stay healthy. However, it’s important to seek medical advice immediately if you think you could have a serious medical condition such as this.
How To Prevent Oral Cancer
- Brush teeth and floss daily. You should brush your teeth for at least two minutes, twice a day, and floss each day to
remove debris from between the teeth. This reduces the risk of dental health problems such as gum disease as well as oral cancer, and is the key to
a healthy mouth throughout your life. - Address your diet. Cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli and cabbage, as well as berries, beans, dark leafy greens
and flaxseed can all help to protect against health problems such as oral cancer. Including these, and other foods such as garlic, grapes and tomatoes
in your diet can help to fight free radicals that cause cancer. Experts advise boiling, baking or steaming your food rather than frying or grilling,
and spices such as garlic, ginger and curry powder are considered to be beneficial to your health. - Smoking. Tar and nicotine in cigarettes or tobacco can seriously damage your health and lead to many serious health
conditions such as mouth cancer. Giving up smoking and all tobacco products can be a great way to improve your health, and you can seek support and
advice from your doctor if you are finding it difficult to quit. - Reduce your alcohol intake. Do not drink more than one or two drinks daily, and be aware that binge drinking is a risk
factor for mouth cancer. The more that you drink (or smoke), the more likely you are to cause damage to your health. - Limit sun exposure. Exposure to the sun can lead to skin cancer or cancer of the lips, so it is vital to ensure that
you use sun protection. Some lip balms include sunscreen which can be used on a regular basis. - Exercise regularly. Regular exercise to keep fit and healthy is extremely important for your general health and
wellbeing. You should aim to raise your heart rate for at least thirty minutes, five times per week. If you’re new to exercising, you should check
with your GP before beginning a new fitness regime. - Visit your dentist. You should see your dentist regularly, every six to twelve months, to maintain good dental health.
If you are worried about any lumps, tender areas or white, grey or red patches, you should get these checked immediately.
Find a Good Family Dentist In Ballincollig
Visit the Guiney Dental Clinic in Cork to meet our friendly, experienced team, who will be happy to discuss your family’s dental needs. Call today on 021-481 0535.