The oral cavity includes most of the tongue, the gums, the lining of the cheeks and lips and the bottom and  top of the mouth.  Having oral cancer means that cancer cells have been found in some of these places.  Stay alert to changes that occur in your mouth.  Any lumps or sores that last longer than 2 weeks should be reported to your dentist or doctor. 
  
Facts and figures about oral cancer 
  95% of all oral cancers occur in persons over 40 years of age 
  83% of people diagnosed with oral cancer have a good chance of being cured if the cancer is detected early. 
  Oral cancer may be prevented by changing some lifestyle behaviours. 
  Oral cancer not only destroys the tissues in  the mouth but, like all cancers, can spread to other parts of the body. 
  
Warning signs of oral cancer 
 Be informed and be aware! The warning signs are: 
  White, smooth or scaly patches 
  Swelling or lumps in the mouth or on the neck, lips or tongue  
  Numbness, burning, or pain in the mouth without apparent cause  
  Red patches that do not heal within 2 weeks 
  Difficulty in speaking or swallowing 
  
Self-Examination 
Looking in your mouth is important to the early detection of oral cancer.  Use a bright light. Remove any dental appliance, such as a partial or complete denture. 
- Look inside and feel the inside of your lips and check the outside of your gums.  
- Tilt your head back to look at the roof of your mouth. 
- Check the inside of your cheeks as well as the inside of your gums. 
- Check all surfaces of the tongue, particularly the sides and  underside.  
- Feels for lumps or enlarged lymph nodes on both sides of the neck and under the lower jaw. 
       
Eight ways to prevent Oral cancer 
       1. Visit a dentist at least once a year. 
       2. Brush regularly and floss once a day. 
       3. Eat a well balanced diet. 
       4. Use a sunscreen on your lips with a minimum sun protection factor (SPF) of 15. 
       5. Avoid all tobacco products. 
       6. Limit your use of alcohol.  This includes mouthwash which contain alcohol. 
       7. Do not allow anything to continually irritate the tissues in your mouth.  (i.e. loose fitting dentures) 
       8. Examine your mouth regularly.  Have anything unusual checked. 
  
Visit our website to take and Oral Cancer Self-Test to evaluate your risk level.  For more information please contact this office or the Canadian Cancer Society’s Cancer Information Line at 1-888-939-3333. 

For the past few months, they are: 

Victor Drury Gillian Brooks David Lewis Andrew Wigmore Emma Brooks Krysia Collier Valerie Grant Justin Loranger Johnny Wakim

Ashley Kotarba Shawn Macdonald Adam Mahar Cheryl O'Connor Alexander Drury Leah Ronayne Theresa Hoang Matthew Kotarba

Hayley Brooks Stepahnie Kotarba Tyler Mandzuk Liam Olders T.J. Morrison Claire Dutrisac Patrick Ronayne Marie-Joelle Robert

 

Don’t forget that we can now send many insurance claims through to your carriers electronically which significantly reduces your wait for your refund. 

All you need to do is give us your insurance information and sign a special form. You can even get the form on our website.

In the News:  
 
  

  
Well we do... and you can even win a prize for trying it out. 

When all the attention is focused on teeth, it’s easy to forget that your brush needs care too! 

 If you brush once a day you should replace your toothbrush every two to three months. 
Most people forget and keep their brushes on an average of nine months!  
Kids like munching and chewing on their brushes and make them wear out faster. 
A worn out brush is less effective at removing plaque . 
Rinse your brush thoroughly with hot water after each use and let it drain standing on its handle in a glass or toothbrush holder. 
Hard, worn or frayed bristles can actually damage your gum tissue. 
It’s better to use a brush with ultra soft rounded bristles. 
A healthy brushing should take at least 2½ or three minutes. 

Come and see us and we’ll give you one of the best toothbrushes on the market for free with your checkup!  

Lisette

 Get your entries in! 

 
The prize to be awarded will be a free “checkup and cleaning” appointment (maximum $85 value). 

There are several ways to enter: 
you can email, write, or fax in your entries, or you can drop them off in person. 
 
The entries will be judged by a panel of experts and will become the property of this office. The judges’ decision is final and not subject to appeal. All entries must be received by 4:30pm on the 31st of December 1999 to be considered. 
 

Bridgit