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Cigarette smoke contains more than 6,000 chemicals, and at least 200 of those chemicals are known to be harmful to your health. When smoke is inhaled, moist oral tissues are saturated with excessive amounts of carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, and a host of other known carcinogens. Most oral cancers originate in abnormal squamous cell activity, which are cells found on the lips, inside the mouth, and in the throat.

How Oral Cancer Begins

Cells exposed to consistently high levels of cigarette smoke may eventually suffer abnormal mutations within their DNA. Since deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is responsible for providing cells with instructions about growth, reproduction, and death, these instructions become distorted, which causes the cells to reproduce uncontrollably.

Essentially, that is what cancer is: rapid, unchecked growth of genetically mutated cells that encourages the development of malignant tumors. Unfortunately, the chemicals in cigarette smoke are strongly associated with oral cancer.

Signs of Oral Cancer

Early-stage oral cancer is often asymptomatic, which means symptoms appear only after the cancer intensifies and spreads. Possible signs of oral cancer include:

• Ulcers inside the mouth or on the lips that do not heal
• White or dark red patches inside the mouth
• Lumps inside or around the mouth (a lump could appear on your neck)
• Bleeding, numbness, and soreness in the mouth
• Chronic halitosis
• Loose teeth in the absence of tooth decay

Diagnosis and Treatment of Oral Cancer

Squamous cell oral cancer is the most common type diagnosed in smokers. Dr. Meuselbach and our staff often discover squamous cell carcinoma lesions during dental examinations or cancer screenings. Depending on the stage of the oral cancer, treatment may begin with a biopsy or an exfoliative cytology procedure that involves collecting cells from the oral cavity using a scraper.

According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, oral cancer patients may need surgery, radiation therapy, a combination of surgery and radiation therapy, or chemotherapy to eradicate oral cancer.

Smoking, Cancer, and Tooth Decay

Not only is smoking the number-one cause of cancer but it is also detrimental to the overall health of your teeth and gums. Yellow teeth, bad breath, dry mouth, and expedited tooth decay are all caused by smoking, not to mention the damage smoke does to the heart, lungs, and kidneys.

In other words, don’t smoke!

Cleanings and checkups are important for maintaining proper oral health, and can be crucial when it comes to finding oral developmental issues or potential oral cancers. At Meuselbach Family Dental we know that maintaining good oral health with a well-balanced diet (fruits, vegetables, and proteins) can help prevent these problems from ever occurring.

We advise against all sodas and sticky treats that tend to feed bacteria, and ideally all processed foods. These foods tend to lead to cavities, and even systemic health issues (obesity, high blood pressure, cancers, diabetes, etc.). In place of processed foods, we recommend eating large portions of fiber, which can be found in most plant based foods. These foods are generally not "sticky" and bacteria colonizing, and don't contribute negatively to our health.

Proper home care is always necessary when it comes maintaining a healthy smile. An electric toothbrush such as a Sonicare or Oral B Genius is also ideal, along with proper flossing or Waterpik usage. No matter what tool you have it must be used often and correctly!

Education is paramount when it comes to helping our patients prevent cavities and gum disease. At Meuselbach Family Dental we take the time to educate all of our patients during their visits with us, and help to answer any questions they may have. We love getting to know our patients so that we can formulate the best oral health care plan for them!

Gum disease or periodontal disease is an infection of the gums and bone surrounding your teeth. Gum disease is one of the top reasons for adult tooth loss, and one of the largest contributors to other health problems such as heart disease, stroke, and blood sugar disturbances like diabetes. Gum disease can range from mild (gingivitis that has progressed to early gum and bone loss) to severe (destruction of bone and gum, loss of teeth, and systemic health problems).

Harmful bacteria is generally the cause of gum disease, which is colonized by a lack of proper oral hygiene. There are other aggravating factors such as genetics, tobacco use, immune system and response, bite habits, bacterial overload, dry mouth, developmental concerns (crooked teeth or odd formed teeth), malocclusion (improper bite and tooth positions), and many medications can also increase a patient’s risk of developing periodontal disease.

Gum disease is oftentimes left untreated because the patient is unaware of the problem. Unfortunately, this is because it’s rarely symptomatic until it becomes severe. With deep cleaning methods such as scaling and root planing, more frequent office visits (every 3-4 months), and regular home care, it can be halted.

At Meuselbach Family Dental we highly recommend preventing gum disease through daily brushing, flossing and/or using a Waterpik, frequent professional dental cleanings, and maintaining a healthy diet. If you think you may be showing signs of gum disease, please contact our West Chester office to schedule an appointment with us.

One of the greatest advantages to using Invisalign is that it provides maximum results with minimal impact on your everyday life. Invisalign is comfortable, easy to insert, and simple to remove. Because you can remove Invisalign aligners, you can enjoy all your favorite foods and beverages without worries about getting food stuck in the wires and brackets of traditional braces.

Eating and Invisalign

While the aligner is durable and strong, you should remove it before you eat or drink beverages, as the chewing action inside your mouth can break, crack, or distort the aligner. Even minute damage to the Invisalign tray will prevent it from aligning your teeth properly. Furthermore, eating with Invisalign in your mouth can be quite messy.

Beverages and Invisalign

Repeated exposure to hot liquids may also cause the Invisalign aligner to distort. This distortion changes the shape of your aligner in a way that will affect how it straightens your teeth. Contact our West Chester office if your Invisalign aligner has distorted after consuming a hot beverage.

Fluids can settle inside the aligner to “bathe” the teeth. Bathing teeth in acidic fluids can be especially problematic, as the acids can wear away tooth enamel. Exposure to acidic fluids is not normally a problem, as saliva neutralizes and buffers the acid then washes it away. Wearing an aligner, however, prevents the saliva from doing those jobs, increasing your risk for tooth decay.

Colored drinks may also change the color of your teeth. Most discoloration is temporary but stubborn stains may occur.

To prevent discoloration and tooth decay, brush your teeth after every meal or beverage before putting in your Invisalign aligners. If you do not have access to clean water, chew sugar-free gum to remove bacteria, acid, and food particles from your teeth. As a last resort, you may leave your aligners out for an hour or two until you can brush and floss properly. Before inserting Invisalign, rinse the aligner in lukewarm water or use the Invisalign cleaning kit.

Contact our West Chester office for more information about eating and Invisalign.