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alcohol

Photography by Dr. Padval

Update on Oral Cancer

Oral cancer is the sixth most common cancer in the world, and strikes over 43,000 people each year in America. Over the past 30 years, survival rates have only increased from 45 percent to 54 percent, with survival rates lower among African Americans and people under 40. In a recent poll, the National Institute of Dental Research found that a sizable population understood the causes and early signs of oral cancer. Along with genetic disposition, risk factors include: smoking or chewing tobacco, regular alcohol [...]

By |2024-09-03T10:02:04-07:00December 3, 2024|Patient Education|

Alcohol and Your Teeth

Dentally speaking, is drinking alcohol a good thing or a bad thing for your teeth and gums? As with everything alcohol related, there are positives and negatives. On one hand, a mixer-free shot of vodka is probably less hazardous than caramel candies, which coat the teeth with a sticky goo that practically begs for cavities. On the other hand, every kind of alcohol—most notoriously drinks with sugary mixes—are chock-full of their own types of sugar. Sugar is the main source of energy for plaque [...]

By |2024-09-02T14:44:17-07:00June 18, 2024|Patient Education|

Oral Cancer Facts and Screening

How common and how serious is oral cancer? Oral cancer, the sixth most common cancer, accounts for about 3.6 percent of all cancers diagnosed, with roughly 40,000 new cases of oral cancer reported annually in the United States. The vast majority of these cases occur in people older than 45 years, with men being twice as likely as women to develop the disease. The most frequent oral cancer sites are the tongue, the floor of the mouth, and soft palate tissue areas in back [...]

By |2024-09-02T14:37:17-07:00February 20, 2024|Preventative Dentistry|

Get An Oral Cancer Screening

Detect oral cancer in its early stages. If you are a user of alcohol, tobacco, or other nicotine products, you probably already know that they aren't good for your oral health. The last thing you want is to hear another lecture about kicking the habit. Well, when you visit our office, we are not here to guilt-trip you. We're here to help! And part of that process includes providing an oral cancer screening, especially if you're at high risk. Oral cancer is a relatively [...]

By |2023-05-23T08:00:18-07:00May 23, 2023|Preventative Dentistry|

Alcohol, Your Teeth, & Your Health

While some studies might find benefits in moderate drinking (such as antioxidants in red wine), you can surely obtain these supposed positives through other, more healthy options. In fact, alcohol consumption has mostly adverse effects on our well-being. Most people know this but still drink due to the cultural and social aspects. Of course, moderation is key. Taking it too far and drinking in excess can pose dangers to both your overall health and your teeth as well. Alcohol & Overall Health In the [...]

By |2022-12-20T08:00:47-08:00December 20, 2022|Patient Education|

Saliva… Fantastic Fluid!

Your salivary glands make up to three pints a day of this fantastic fluid. Why so much? Because saliva plays an important role in keeping your teeth and gums fit and smiling. Saliva helps fight cavities by prevent food from sticking to teeth and gums, it also helps neutralize stomach acid preventing heartburn. Saliva even helps strengthen teeth by providing supplemental calcium and phosphorus. Unfortunately, some people are plagued by chronic dry mouth, often called xerostomia. While medical professionals no longer believe that old [...]

By |2018-08-28T00:00:45-07:00August 28, 2018|Patient Education|

Alcohol and Your Health…

Just the Facts There's so much conflicting information regarding drinking alcohol blasting at us these days. A glass of red wine is good? Is even drinking at all a good idea? It's a matter of proportion. The facts are these. First, alcohol affects women more than men. Because men tend to be heavier in muscle mass, their bodies can process slightly more alcohol with fewer negative consequences than women's. But there's something else: the amount of an enzyme known as gastric alcohol dehydrogenase that's [...]

By |2017-03-14T00:00:35-07:00March 14, 2017|Patient Education|