Month: December 2023

As a parent, your child’s oral health is a top priority. Establishing solid dental habits early can lead to a lifetime of healthy smiles. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the most important techniques and practices for maintaining your child’s dental health and laying the foundation for a beautiful, cavity-free smile.

Ways to Maintain a Healthy Smile

Begin Early:

A child’s oral health journey starts before the first tooth appears. Gently cleanse your baby’s gums after feedings with a clean, damp cloth to remove bacteria and lay the foundation for good oral hygiene habits. Once teeth begin to erupt, typically around six months, switch to a soft, age-appropriate toothbrush. Use a tiny smear of fluoride toothpaste for children under three and a pea-sized amount for those aged three to six. Teach your child to spit out excess toothpaste.

Teach Good Brushing Techniques:

Good brushing techniques are crucial for dental hygiene. Teach your child to brush their teeth in gentle, circular motions, covering each tooth’s front, back, and chewing surfaces. Supervise brushing until your child is around 7 or 8 years old to ensure thorough cleaning and proper toothpaste usage. Use a two-minute timer or play a favorite song to make brushing more enjoyable.

Establish a Consistent Routine:

Consistency is key to maintaining oral health. Establish a daily routine that includes brushing in the morning and at night. Regular habits help integrate oral care into your child’s daily life. Begin dental check-ups at age one or when the first tooth appears to monitor oral development, detect issues early, and provide preventive care.

Promote Healthy Eating Habits:

Diet plays a significant role in oral health. Encourage a balanced diet of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins. Limit sugary snacks and beverages to prevent tooth decay. Opt for tooth-friendly snacks like cheese, yogurt, fruits, and vegetables that promote saliva production and neutralize acids. Advise using a straw for sugary drinks and promote water as the primary hydration source.

Prevent Tooth Decay:

Tooth decay is common in children. Ensure your child gets enough fluoride through fluoridated water or supplements if necessary. Consider dental sealants for molars to protect against bacteria and food particles, reducing the risk of cavities.

Address Thumb-Sucking and Pacifier Use:

While common in infants, thumb-sucking and pacifier use should be addressed as your child grows. Encourage gradual cessation and offer positive reinforcement. Consult a dentist if these habits persist beyond age three or four or affect tooth alignment.

Set a Good Example:

Lead by example. Brush your teeth together as a family activity, emphasizing the importance of dental hygiene. Use positive reinforcement to acknowledge your child’s efforts in maintaining good dental habits.

Conclusion:

Maintaining your child’s smile requires a combination of education, positive reinforcement, and consistent dental care practices. By starting early, developing good habits, promoting a balanced diet, addressing potential issues promptly, and leading by example, you can set the stage for lifelong optimal dental health. Regular dental check-ups and a supportive approach to oral care help your child have a positive dental experience and lay the foundation for a beautiful, healthy smile.

 

The middle section of your throat is called the oropharynx, and cancer in this region is called oropharyngeal cancer. Doctors can treat oropharyngeal cancer, but it has a tendency to come back. To reduce the risk of getting this cancer, you should avoid the use of tobacco, smoking, and alcoholic beverages and protect yourself against HPV (Human papillomavirus). HPV is a very common sexually transmitted infection.

A routine oral exam can reveal oral cavity, pre-cancer, or oropharyngeal cancer, but in general, this cancer is found when a person develops prominent signs or symptoms. If cancer of the oropharynx is detected, then one needs to do other tests to confirm it.

Let us delve deeper into what oropharyngeal cancer is, how it is diagnosed, and ways to treat it.

Details of Cancer of Oropharynx

• The area inside our throat which makes saliva is called the pharynx. This area is moist due to saliva formation, which helps us digest food.
• The tissue at the back of your throat, for example, the palate, tonsils, and pharynx, is where oropharyngeal cancer occurs.
• HPV is the biggest factor for cancer in the oropharynx, and as per CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention), around seventy percent of this cancer is due to HPV.
• HPV has the capacity to integrate into our DNA and can stop the production of tumor-suppressor proteins, which leads to the growth of cancerous cells that go unchecked.
• Some of the other significant factors that cause this cancer are smoking, heavy alcohol consumption, and not eating enough vegetables and fruits.

Warning Signs of Oropharyngeal cancer

Your body can indicate that you are suffering from cancer of the oropharynx in several ways, such as:

• You get a sore throat that doesn’t go away.
• There is a lump or soreness at the back of your throat, which is uncomfortable and does not heal.
• You feel like there is something stuck in your throat all the time.
• Your mouth or tongue feels numb.
• Your voice becomes hoarse or changes suddenly.
• There is bleeding or pain in the mouth.
• You find it difficult to swallow, chew, or move your jaws or tongue.
• You have trouble opening your mouth completely.
• You have unexplainable weight loss.
• You have persistent ear pain.
• A white patch appears on the lining of your mouth or tongue and does not go away.

How Does Your Doctor Diagnose Oropharyngeal Cancer?

Your dentist would initially perform an oral screening and enquire about your medical history and symptoms. Your doctor needs to know if you have a history of neck or head cancer or if you have undergone radiation therapy on your neck or head. 

Your dentist would also need to know about your lifestyle choices, such as whether you consume tobacco, smoke, etc. An external examination of the neck and throat for lumps would also be done by your doctor.

• Oral brush biopsy – The oral brush biopsy procedure involves using a brush to collect suspicious cells to check for the presence of cancer. These cells are then sent to the laboratory for analysis. If the cells reveal any malignant activity, then you would be referred to an ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat) doctor or an oral surgeon.
• CT scan – Your provider might also use a computed tomography scan to measure the size of the tumor and figure out if the tumor has spread. The doctor may combine a CT scan with a PET (Positron Emission Tomography) scan.
• MRI scan – MRI or Magnetic Resonance Imaging produces detailed images of a body part, especially soft tissues, for instance, tonsils or the base of our tongue. MRI also helps providers in determining the size of the tumor.

Treatment of Oropharyngeal Cancer

There are a couple of options available for treating cancer of the oropharynx, such as radiation therapy, surgery, targeted drug therapy, chemotherapy, or immunotherapy. The aim of any of these procedures is to eliminate cancer cells without hampering your speaking and swallowing capabilities as much as possible.

• Surgery – Cancer cells that are small and have not spread yet can be targeted with surgery. TORS (Transoral Robotic Surgery) is a common and minimally invasive surgery that addresses difficult-to-reach cancer cells in the oropharynx. Robotic surgery does not require a large incision in your neck or splitting of your lower jaw to remove tumors in your throat. Your provider does not even need to insert a breathing tube to perform this procedure.
• Chemotherapy – Your doctor may use chemotherapy on its own or combine it with radiation therapy. The combination therapy can target those cancer cells that have spread to other areas of your body and shrink them before surgery. This procedure can also kill cancer cells that remain after the surgery.
• Targeted therapy – In targeted therapies, lab-made versions of monoclonal antibodies (proteins in your immune system) are used to block a protein that cancer cells depend on for dividing, growing, and spreading.
• Immunotherapy – If the cancer has spread or returned, immunotherapy is the first line of treatment your doctor would go for. With this therapy, your immune system can find and destroy cancer cells.

Oropharyngeal cancer is caused mostly due to an STI (sexually transmitted infection) called HPV. Some lifestyle habits like smoking, tobacco, or excessive alcohol can also cause it. You must visit your doctor as soon as possible if you feel you have any of the symptoms discussed in this article.