Diet and Oral Health
Proper oral hygiene is not the only key to good dental health. The right diet choices are just as important as regular brushing, flossing, and biannual trips to the dentist. In fact, healthy food decisions today can help protect your teeth from future cavities and gum disease.
One of the most notorious villains in the fight against tooth decay is sugar. Sugar and other foods high in starches cause sticky plaque to form, which begins to eat away the protective enamel coating of the tooth and leads to decay. Because so many foods and drinks in the average American's diet today contain significant amounts of sugar, it is absolutely imperative to practice daily dental maintenance.
A balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables is important for long-term dental health as well. When your diet is low in certain nutrients, it becomes harder for the tissues of your mouth to resist infection, which can lead to periodontal (gum) disease, the main cause of tooth loss in adults. Also, fluoridated water builds strong teeth from the inside out. A balanced diet that is low in sugar and high in fiber combined with proper oral hygiene will help keep your teeth and body healthy throughout your life, and healthy diet choices today will protect your teeth and gums from decay and disease tomorrow.
Velscope Oral Cancer Screening Exam
New technological advances in dentistry can not only help to prevent tooth decay they can also save lives. Velscope is a quick and painless exam that can prevent the spread of deadly cancers by catching precancerous abnormalities, such as those that indicate malignancies such as oral cancers. Oral cancer, or cancer of the mouth, is one of the most curable diseases when caught in the early stages of development. In fact, when oral cancer is found in its earliest stage, treatment is more than 90% successful and more simple and less invasive as well.
Dr. Mann and other progressive dental professionals use the Velscope screening process to help save patient lives by identifying abnormalities that might develop into oral cancer. The exam is fast and painless and helps to identify, evaluate and monitor these abnormal areas that might not be caught otherwise. An annual Velscope exam, in combination with a conventional visual examination, provides a comprehensive oral screening procedure for patients at risk.
If you are in a high risk group for oral cancer (older than 40, a tobacco user, or a heavy or chronic alcohol consumer), make sure to get screened at least once a year. Even without these factors, your health could be at risk. According to the American Dental Association, over 25% of oral cancers occur in people who do not smoke and have no other risk factors. Don't take chances with your life talk to Dr. Mann about receiving a quick and painless Velscope exam that could help save your life today.
