Dental Cleanings and Complimentary Oral Cancer Screenings
 Taking care of your mouth at home, with daily brushing and flossing, is an essential part of maintaining the health of your mouth. However, even the best brushers can still experience oral health issues. At Raptou Family Dental, we provide professional cleanings, along with complimentary oral cancer screenings, to help optimize your oral health.
Why Is a Professional Dental Cleaning So Important?
Daily brushing and flossing are essential oral hygiene habits. During the day, plaque naturally builds up on your teeth, and oral bacteria multiply. Brushing and flossing help to reduce the amount of plaque and bacteria, helping to keep your mouth healthy. However, even the best brushers can miss certain areas, and plaque and bacteria grow unchecked, raising your risk of developing tooth decay and gum disease. With a professional cleaning, we remove plaque, tartar (hardened plaque that cannot be removed with regular brushing and flossing) and bacteria from all areas of your mouth, including the difficult to clean areas, helping to greatly improve your oral health.
How Is a Cleaning Performed?
We recommend that you have at least two professional cleanings each year. These cleanings are relatively straightforward. We start by using specialized tools to scrape plaque, tartar, and bacteria from the surfaces of your teeth, including between your teeth and at the gumline. We then use a special dental polish, which contains abrasives, to polish your teeth to a beautiful finish. Next, we floss between your teeth, which helps to remove any debris and polish that has been left behind. If necessary, we can provide you with a fluoride treatment to help protect your teeth from bacterial attack.
What Is Oral Cancer?
Oral cancer is deadly cancer, if not diagnosed and treated early. It affects approximately 40,000 people across the US every year. It can appear anywhere in the mouth—your lips, tongue, cheeks, gums, palate, the floor of the mouth or near the entrance of your throat. It can strike at any time, so it is important to know the symptoms:
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Red or white patches (or other unusual growths).
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Sores that will not heal.
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Difficulty speaking, eating or swallowing.
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A change in the way your teeth fit together.
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Numbness in your chin or jaw. |
Risk Factors for Oral Cancer
There are several factors that can increase your risk of developing oral cancer:
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Smoking. Approximately 90% of oral cancer patients were smokers.
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Excessive drinking. 70% to 80% of all oral cancer patients were heavy drinkers. Smoking and drinking raise your risk exponentially.
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Family history. If someone in your immediate family has suffered oral cancer, you are at an increased risk.
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Age. Older adults are more likely to experience oral cancer.
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Certain strains of HPV. |
Your Oral Cancer Screening
Oral cancer screenings in our office are complimentary, and a part of your regular visits. We start by inspecting the soft tissues of your mouth, checking for any signs of oddities. We will also inspect your face and neck. What we are looking for is any signs of unusual swelling. We are also checking your bite. If we find anything unusual, we will then recommend you for diagnosis, which may consist of digital imaging and a soft tissue biopsy.
Professional cleanings and oral cancer screenings are essential for helping you to maintain your oral health. Call Raptou Family Dental at (614) 427-0449 to schedule your appointment today!
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