By Tooth Fairy / www.divinecaroline.com
Who Gets Oral Cancer?
The answer is anyone.
Of course, we know that smoking, and chewing tobacco increases the risk for cancer. But did you know so does drinking alcohol. And other “extra curricular activities” (drugs).
And might I also add to the list, STDs! Yep, you read that right. STDs increase the risk for oral cancer too. Maybe, think about it twice before you do, you know what, because you may be able to take an antiviral now, but when it comes to cancer it is much different.
Even if you are clean as a whistle, you still can get oral cancer. We just need to be informed.
Last little tid bit of info I will share and I promise I will end this blog. Those of you who are on medication for osteoporosis listen up. Some doctors have prescribed to you a type of amino bisphosphonate (fosamax), this is great and works rather effectively. They have your best interest in mind and are thinking about strengthening bones, but one side effect of these bisphosphonates, that they sometimes forget to inform you about, is necrosis of the jaw. Yikes! One reason they forget is because for years the drug companies of these bisphosphonates didn’t report it but now (thanks to lawsuits) it is reported and can be found on that paper that is folded up twenty times and has font the size of a spec of dust. Ok, so I am exaggerating a little, but it is on there, I promise. It can be hard to find because the writing is quite small and lets face it, it’s quite a lot of info to take in at once. So, as a warning, we stress that if you are taking a bisphosphonate, have a good home care routine and keep your gums in tip top shape. If you do this, you should be fine. It is when the gum disease gets out of control and you lose a tooth, that we get concerned. Why? Because that is where the necrosis can start and spread. Another place is at the joint of the the jaw. Be aware if you start to feel some discomfort, pain, or something out of the norm in the joint. If this is the case get it checked. By the way, even if you are taken off of your medication it can still affect you years after so keep up with your hygiene. Ok that is all.
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