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Having a regular teeth check-up is not only important because it will allow you to maintain healthy teeth, but it can also help to prevent the onset of gum disease, as well as oral cancer. In addition to having your teeth checked at the dentist, you can take other steps to ensure that you keep your teeth in the best shape possible.
Screening for oral cancer
During your regular Canyon View Dentistry teeth check-up, a dentist can perform a test for oral cancer. This can help you detect the disease early, increasing your chances of successful treatment.
During an oral cancer screening, a dentist will use a variety of tests and instruments to find the disease. The most basic of these tests involves examining your mouth for lumps or red or white tissue patches. The dentist may feel around your jaw and under your teeth for possible growths or abnormalities.
Other oral cancer screening techniques include a brush biopsy, a simple method of removing a few cells. Then, the sample is sent to a lab for analysis. Another testing method is to dye the mouth blue. The abnormal area will light up blue when the dye is applied.
The American Cancer Society recommends oral cancer screenings every three years. Some healthcare providers may also recommend you have a home screening once a month.
If you have a family history of oral cancer, you may want to ask your dentist for a screening every four months. The remission rate for oral cancer is high, especially if it is detected in the early stages.
Prevention of gum disease
A healthy mouth is essential, and a monthly teeth check-up is one of the best ways to prevent gum disease. Your dentist can detect signs of gingivitis and periodontal diseases and help you treat them. They will also give you tips for keeping your gums and teeth healthy.
It would help if you brushed your teeth and flossed at least twice daily day. In addition, you should use a soft toothbrush and high-quality fluoride toothpaste. Finally, it would help if you replaced your toothbrush every three months. This will help remove the bacteria from your mouth.
It would help if you also used mouthwash to neutralize the bacteria around the gums. The more you can remove the bacteria, the less likely you are to develop gum disease.
Common gum disease symptoms include swollen, red, and painful gums. In addition, you may have a metallic taste in your mouth or bad breath. You may also experience oral bleeding, a loose tooth, or discolored teeth.
Sometimes, you will need to visit your dentist more often than usual. They will examine your gums and use a special ruler to determine the size of any pockets between your teeth and gums. If they find that you have a problem with your gums, you will be referred to a periodontist. They will clean your gums and remove any tartar buildup that you may have.
VELscope cancer exam
VELscope cancer exam for monthly teeth check-up is a painless and non-invasive procedure. It allows dentists to detect oral cancer and other abnormalities before they become more severe. In addition, the device’s fluorescence technology enables them to detect pre-cancerous lesions.
Using a proprietary filter, the VELscope’s blue light “excites” molecules deep within the oral mucosal tissues. These molecules then change color to differentiate normal tissue from abnormal tissue.
When a normal, healthy tissue absorbs the VELscope’s frequency of blue light, it produces a bright green glow. When an abnormal tissue absorbs the VELscope’s blue light, it has a darker green or purple sheen.
This blue light can help the dentist see areas that might not be visible to the naked eye during a traditional white light examination. It also makes it easier to detect lesions that do not appear under a conventional white light.
The VELscope is a non-invasive, painless procedure that takes just a few minutes. During the exam, the dentists look for changes in the head and neck and examine the lips, mouth, and tongue for lesions, sores, or other abnormalities.
The VELscope uses the most advanced technology to detect oral cancer early. It can even detect viruses and fungal infections in the mouth.
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