November 2018 is Mouth Cancer Action Month - a national charity campaign aiming to raise awareness of mouth cancer and save lives by promoting the values of prevention and early detection.
Orthodontic treatment can play a key role in both avoiding and spotting the symptoms of Oral Cancer, allowing patients to seek early treatment should possible problems occur.
Here we look at some of the key ways that visiting an orthodontist can help to safeguard against Oral Cancer and potentially save lives.
Oral health
Maintaining a high standard of oral health is an important way to safeguard against serious issues such as plaque build-up, gum disease and Oral Cancer. An orthodontist will advise on how to keep a highly effective oral health regime whilst you are wearing braces and help to identify any potential problems.
Check-ups
Attending scheduled check-up appointments with an orthodontist is essential as this provides a regular opportunity for your oral health to be assessed. If there are any underlying issues or symptoms of oral cancer, these will be spotted and referred to a doctor as early as possible.
Treatment
An orthodontist will focus on assessing the condition of your teeth and gums before advising of any orthodontic treatment that is required. Treatments such as fillings or extractions help to avoid infection and the onset of related oral health issues, also helping to protect the jaw and surrounding bone structure.
Vigilance
We can all help to fight Oral Cancer simply by being more watchful when we undertake our daily oral health routine. So, make sure to check any discomfort or changes that occur around your gums, mouth and tongue and always report any potential problems to your dentist or orthodontist. Whilst it is normal to sometimes feel a little discomfort during or at the start of orthodontic treatment, anything that persists or worries you should be checked out.
To find out more, please get in touch!
Marsh House Orthodontics is a friendly, caring and relaxed specialist orthodontic practice in London, offering a wide choice of treatments for both adults and children.
If you would like to find out more about our range of services including orthodontic check-ups and treatments, please call the friendly team at Marsh House Orthodontics today on 020 8646 6200.