Dentist in Flower Mound TX Urges YOU To Get YOUR Oral Cancer Screening Today!

Oral cancer is on the rise.                                               

This year alone it is estimated that more than 43,000 Americans will be diagnosed this year, and about 9,000 will die as a result of oral cancer.  That is why educating yourself on prevention methods, early detection, and treatment options is more important than  ever.  

The number of people expected to be diagnosed this year with oral and throat cancers is VERY concerning.  The good news is that early detection is quick, easy, and painless.  As part of your routine dental exam, we will be screening you for oral cancer as well.  A dentist can see and feel precancerous tissue changes and early cancer, and can diagnose them during the early, curable stages. When oral cancer is detected early, the survival rate is an encouraging 80% to 90% and treatment outcomes are also good.

Many oral and throat cancers today are caused by the Human Papilloma Virus, specifically HPV 16 and HPV 18.  Because of the rapidly growing number of HPV-related oral cancer diagnoses, we strongly recommend that our patients age 17 years and older get screened yearly.

What Is an Oral Cancer Screening?

An oral cancer screening takes only three minutes. It consists of a verbal, visual, and physical examination and includes the following:

•   A thorough review of your oral health history, as well as your overall health history, which includes questions that help assess your level of risk for mouth cancer

•   A visual inspection of all the areas of your mouth and throat in an effort to locate any abnormalities, such as sores and red or white patches; this inspection includes the lips, cheeks, gums, tongue, floor of the mouth, roof of the mouth, and far-back section of your tongue

Oral Cancer Signs and Symptoms

In between routine dental exams, you should perform self-examinations.  Some of the things that you should be looking for when doing self examination which may indicate either a cancerous or pre-cancerous lesion are any of the following:

•   Red or white patches on the lining of the mouth or tongue

•   Swelling or thickening of areas inside the mouth

•   Unexplained bleeding

•   Sores on the face, neck, or mouth that do not heal

•   A Chronic sore throat

•   Hoarseness in your voice

•   A change in the way your dentures fit

•   Suspicious lumps found by palpating your mouth, jaw, and neck

•   Dramatic weight loss

•   Inability to swallow, or difficulty in swallowing

•   Swollen glands in the neck that do not go away

Oral Cancer Prevention Tips

Here are some of the things that you can do to minimize your risk of getting Oral or Throat Cancer:

•   Avoid smoking and the use of all tobacco products.

•   Limit drinking alcohol, or avoid it all together.

•   Avoid overexposure to the sun, and use sunblock on your skin and lips.

•   Practice safe sex.  HPV is a sexually transmitted virus.

•   Maintain a healthy diet.

Give our office a call today to schedule your Oral Cancer Screening.  It just takes 3 minutes of your time.  It’s quick, easy, and painless, and the life you save may be your own.  Don’t wait one day longer.  Call our office today for you personal screening and get the peace of mind that you deserve!

Happy New Year From Flower Mound Dental

New Year’s Day marks the beginning of the calendar year in most parts of the world. The holiday is celebrated on January 1st of each year. Customs and celebrations vary by country, religion, and even individual desires. Whether celebrated quietly or with gusto, the day brings the start of new opportunities for those that observe it.

United States and Canada

In both the US and Canada, celebrations begin on New Year’s Eve. At midnight on January 1st the New Year is welcomed with bells, horns, whistles, and other noisemakers. Fireworks are often part of the celebrations. In New York City, Times Square comes alive with revelers. In Toronto, there are large celebrations which may feature concerts, late-night partying, sporting events, and fireworks, with free public transit service during peak party times. Many individuals in North America greet the year by making resolutions for improvements in their lives.

China

In China, many people celebrate two forms of a new year. They may observe January 1st, but the traditional Chinese New Year is based on a lunar calendar. Parades with paper lanterns and dragons made from silk are a significant part of the festivities. Legends say that the dragon spends most of its time in hibernation so fireworks are used to keep the dragon awake.

Jewish Celebration

Jewish New Year’s observances begin with Rosh Hashanah, the first day of the New Year, and end with Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. This ten-day celebration is held in September or October, based on the Hebrew calendar. The New Year is not marked as much with loud celebrations as with personal insight to mend wrongs and resolve to better oneself.

Other countries and cultures also have different dates for New Year’s Day observances:

• Vietnam observes the New Year in February
• In Iran, the day is celebrated on March 21st
• Islamic cultures often observe the tenth day of the month of Muharram
• Russian Orthodox observers use the Julian calendar and celebrate on January 14th
• Buddhist celebrations are held from April 13th through 15th

If you observe New Year’s Day by making healthy resolutions, include dental care in your plans with Dr. William Wyatt and the entire team at Flower Mound Dental Care.  The health of your teeth and gums contributes to your overall health. Caring for your mouth now can prevent many dental problems later in life as well as lower your risk for other systemic illnesses including Heart Disease, Diabetes, Alzheimer's Disease and even strokes!  

Flower Mound Dental Care wishes you a healthy, prosperous, and  a very Happy New Year! Give us a call today to schedule your dental exam and start your new year off right!

Dentist in Flower Mound TX Shares Important Information About Your Child's Teeth

Many parents worry that their children’s teeth are not falling out on time.  A lot of concerned parents want to know:  When will my child lose his or her first baby tooth?  At what age should the last tooth fall out?  Is there a specific order in which the teeth are lost?

Dr. Wyatt explains that a child’s 20 baby teeth (primary teeth) typically come in by age three and begin to loosen and fall out on their own to make room for permanent teeth, which usually appear by the time your child is six.  It is important to know that timing may vary, and girls typically lose their baby teeth earlier than boys.  The last baby teeth will likely fall out by the time your child is 13.                                          
So, which teeth do children lose first?  Baby teeth tend to fall out in the order in which they came, which means the lower center incisors are usually the first to go when your child is between six and seven years old.  The next teeth your child will lose are his or her top center pair, also called the upper central incisors.

It’s important to note that if a child loses a baby tooth early as a result of decay or an unforeseen accident, his or her permanent tooth may erupt early and potentially come in crooked due to limited space.  If your child suffers an injury or has tooth decay, we encourage you to give us a call to set up an appointment with Dr. Wyatt.  There are steps we can take to protect the permanent tooth and maintain space for it if the baby tooth is lost prematurely.

While we know some children couldn’t be more excited to lose their baby teeth, we know others are anxious about this childhood milestone. When your child starts to lose teeth, our team at Flower Mound Dental Care encourages you to stress the importance of proper oral hygiene on a daily basis.

Remember to:

• Remind your child to brush his or her teeth at least twice a day. Supervise and offer assistance  as needed.

• Help your child floss his or her teeth at bedtime.

• Limit eating and drinking between meals and at bedtime, especially sugary treats and drinks, such as candy and soda.

• Schedule regular dental visits for your child at least every six months.

• Ask about the use of fluoride treatments and dental sealants to help prevent tooth decay.

To learn more about baby teeth, or to schedule your child’s next visit with Dr. Wyatt and our team at our Flower Mound TX Dental Office, please give us a call today at  (972) 220-1823.

www.FlowerMoundDental.com