{"id":958,"date":"2019-04-14T20:28:43","date_gmt":"2019-04-14T20:28:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.jpeterstclairdentistry.com\/blog\/?p=958"},"modified":"2019-05-14T20:35:53","modified_gmt":"2019-05-14T20:35:53","slug":"heres-why-seeing-your-dentist-may-save-your-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jpeterstclairdentistry.com\/blog\/heres-why-seeing-your-dentist-may-save-your-life\/","title":{"rendered":"Here\u2019s Why Seeing Your Dentist May Save Your Life"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignleft\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"320\" height=\"213\" src=\"https:\/\/www.jpeterstclairdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/22349035021_9210174c03_n.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-713\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.jpeterstclairdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/22349035021_9210174c03_n.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.jpeterstclairdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/22349035021_9210174c03_n-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 320px) 100vw, 320px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Everyone knows that they should see their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jpeterstclairdentistry.com\/cleanings-exams.html\">dentist<\/a>\nfrom time to time for cleanings and checkups. But these visits can do more than\nprevent cavities. In fact, they just may save your life. That\u2019s because\ndentists are trained to catch serious health conditions in their earliest\nstages, including oral cancer. Let\u2019s see what your dentist can do to help\nprotect you from this potentially life-threatening disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Here\u2019s Why There\u2019s Cause for Concern<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Oral cancer may not get the same attention in the media as\nother health problems. But that doesn\u2019t make it any less deadly. Statistics\nshow that more than 50,000 Americans are diagnosed with this condition every\nyear. Left untreated, it can spread throughout the body, making treatment very\ndifficult. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We mention these facts, not to alarm you but to give you\nsome good news. Oral cancer screenings are now part of most dental checkups performed\nin the US. The process is quick, easy, and comfortable. Yet it can make all the\ndifference in the world for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why Dentists Are in the Oral Cancer Detection Business<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Dentists are trained to be careful observers. Their keen\neyes and sharp minds enable them to spot problems that others can miss. Here\u2019s\nwhat to expect during an oral cancer screening:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Your dentist will check your mouth, throat,\ntongue, lips, palate, face, and neck for anything unusual. This only takes a\nfew seconds. You can relax in the dental chair while it\u2019s going on.<\/li><li>Your dentist will also check for more common\nproblems, such as plaque buildup, cavities, or gaps between your teeth and gums.<\/li><li>If your dentist notices warning signs for oral\ncancer, then he or she may remove a small sample of tissue for testing. This is\na quick, gentle process that involves only a tiny number of skin cells.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The test will be performed by a dental lab. You\u2019ll know\nright away after the results are in. Modern cancer therapy is more comfortable,\nand more effective, than ever before. Modern forms of treatment include\ntargeted drug therapy, immunotherapy, and advanced forms of surgery. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Most cases of oral cancer can be treated if caught in the\nearly stages. This is why it\u2019s so important for you to see a dentist or other\nqualified healthcare professional for regular screenings. There\u2019s no point in\ngambling with your health when help is available. Make an appointment right\naway. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Some Added Anticancer Tips<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are some steps you can take right now to lower your\nrisk of oral cancer:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Avoid tobacco,\nexcessive alcohol consumption, and illicit drugs.<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Use\nsunscreen and wear a hat when you\u2019re outdoors.<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Eat a\nhealthy diet that includes fresh fruits and vegetables.<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Stay\nphysically active.<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Seeing your dentist for regular checkups is part of any\ncancer prevention strategy. In the years to come, you can look back knowing\nthat you\u2019ve done a great job taking care of yourself. In the meantime, keep on\nsmiling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>About the Author<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dr. J. Peter St. Clair has been practicing dentistry here in\nMassachusetts for more than 20 years. He\u2019s a graduate of the Tufts University School\nof Dental Medicine and a member of the American Dental Association. You can\nreach his office <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jpeterstclairdentistry.com\/contact.html\">online<\/a> or by\ncalling (978) 948-2030.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Everyone knows that they should see their dentist from time to time for cleanings and checkups. But these visits can do more than prevent cavities. In fact, they just may save your life. That\u2019s because dentists are trained to catch serious health conditions in their earliest stages, including oral cancer. Let\u2019s see what your dentist can do to help protect you from this potentially life-threatening disease.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-958","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jpeterstclairdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/958","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jpeterstclairdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jpeterstclairdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jpeterstclairdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jpeterstclairdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=958"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.jpeterstclairdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/958\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":959,"href":"https:\/\/www.jpeterstclairdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/958\/revisions\/959"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jpeterstclairdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=958"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jpeterstclairdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=958"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jpeterstclairdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=958"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}