Dr. Farhat Archives | Sterling Heights Dentist, Dr. Farhat of Dental 1 Care

Signs of Dry Socket

May 19, 2020 by dental1admin Leave a Comment

Dry socket refers to the inflammation of the alveolar bone or jawbone after your tooth has been extracted and the resultant blood clot is lost either partially or wholly. The loss of the blood clot halts or delays the healing process. This complication can cause you to develop bad breath and a throbbing headache several days after your tooth was extracted. Read on and learn what the experts at Dental One Care in Sterling Heights, MI have to say about what causes dry socket, signs of dry socket, and symptoms, and how it can be prevented.

Causes of Dry Socket

Bacterial causes. Oral bacteria or infections can prevent a blood clot from forming at the tooth extraction site. Dr. Fadi Farhat, the best dentist in Sterling Heights MI, adds that bacteria present in the mouth can also break down the clot, resulting in a dry socket.
Chemical causes. Nicotine, found in cigarettes, is one of the most common chemicals that can cause a dry socket. It inhibits blood flow to the extraction site and dry socket will result.
Mechanical causes, such as rinsing your mouth aggressively, sucking on a straw, dragging on a cigarette or even spitting can all cause you to lose the blood clot that had formed at the tooth extraction site.
Physiologic factors, such as having a poor supply of blood, having dense bones and hormonal changes, can also result in a dry socket.

Who is at Risk of Dry Socket?

Many risk factors exist for predisposing someone to dry socket. The experts at Dental One Care highlight the following as some of those risk factors:

Smoking
History or presence of gum disease
Extraction of impacted wisdom teeth
Age. People who are older than 30 years of age are at a higher risk of dry socket since their bones are denser, they have a reduced blood supply to the mouth and the extraction process is likely to be more traumatic than that done on a younger person.
Being a woman is also a risk factor since the hormonal changes experienced may affect the blood supply to the extraction site.

If you are concerned about the possibility of dry socket when your tooth is extracted, talk to Dr. Fadi Farhat and you will have your concerns addressed, including what measures are available to minimize the likelihood of the problem from developing.

Signs and Symptoms of Dry Socket

A throbbing headache that develops a few days after your tooth is extracted
A bad taste in your mouth
Bad breath
Clearly visible jawbone in the socket
The tissues around the extraction site become gray
Total or partial absence of a blood clot at the extraction site

Diagnosis of Dry Socket

When you suspect that you have dry socket and you visit Dental One Care in Sterling Heights MI, Dr. Fafdi Farhat will usually base on the symptoms you describe, as well as a dental exam, to determine whether what you are experiencing is indeed dry socket.

For example, it is normal to experience pain when a tooth is extracted, but that pain subsides over the coming days after the procedure. So, if the pain develops days after the tooth extraction, it is likely that you have developed dry socket. Nearly all cases of dry socket develop within the first week after an extraction, so yours may be a different problem if it occurs more than a week after your tooth was extracted.

Can Dry Socket Be Prevented?

Many measures can be taken to prevent or reduce the risk of dry socket from manifesting. We asked our friend, Dr. Jordan Smith, a dentist in Georgetown, KY to for tips on how to prevent dry socket. Dr. Smith recommends the following:

Having the tooth extracted while you are in your monthly period (to avert dry socket related to hormonal changes during the different stages of a woman’s menstrual cycle).
Placing some packing at the extraction site immediately after the extraction procedure.
Use of sutures to protect the clot from being dislodged
Avoid smoking, using a straw or any other device that could dislodge the blood clot.
Refrain from heavy physical activity the first few days after the procedure
Eat soft foods only to avoid putting pressure on the extraction site.
Use an antibacterial rinse to keep the extraction site clean.

Don’t worry if you are diagnosed with dry socket after you had your tooth extracted. The condition can be treated and you will heal within 7-10 days. Besides, there is hardly a chance of permanent damage if you suffer from dry socket. The experts at Dental One Care can also treat the symptoms associated with dry socket, so don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment if you notice that the clot has been dislodged as you heal after a tooth extraction.

Do’s and Don’ts After a Dental Cleaning

May 13, 2020 by dental1admin Leave a Comment

Getting dental fillings is quite common, but some patients may not know what they should or should not do after they leave the dental office with a new filling. In this blog post, our experts at Dental One Care in Sterling Heights, MI, share some do’s and don’ts after a dental cleaning to help you achieve optimal oral health.

Pain After Getting a Filling

Dr. Fadi Farhat, the best dentist in Sterling Heights MI, has found that many people who experience pain after getting a filling do so because that filling was placed too high. If you notice that the filling isn’t at the same level as your other teeth when you speak, chew or move your jaw, contact Dental One Care so that the filling can be reshaped or filed down. Otherwise, high fillings don’t only cause pain but also have a higher risk of cracking.

Pain in Nearby Teeth

After getting a dental filling, you may feel some pain in the nearby teeth. This is normal and doesn’t in any way indicate that those nearby teeth have a problem. In most cases, Dr. Fadi Farhat says that such pain is the result of signals being sent by the tooth with the filling. This pain subsides typically overnight, so you should only be concerned if it exceeds this duration.

Sensitivity After Getting a Dental Filling

You are also likely to experience some sensitivity to hot or cold within the first three weeks after getting a dental filling at Dental One Care. This sensitivity is especially likely if the cavity was deep. To deal with the sensitivity, Dr. Fadi Farhat may recommend that you use a desensitizing toothpaste. It is also helpful for you to avoid consuming very hot or cold substances within those first couple of weeks until you get used to the filling.

Toothache After the Procedure

It isn’t normal to experience a toothache after getting a dental filling. If you do, contact Dr. Fadi Farhat at Dental One Care in Sterling Heights, MI. Our friend Dr. Beth Herko, a dentist in New Providence, NJ, says that the toothache may indicate that the decay was so pronounced that it had reached the dental pulp, so a root canal may be necessary to address the issue.

Dealing with Future Cavities

It is possible to develop other cavities on the same tooth that has a filling or on the other teeth in your mouth. If you ever develop signs, such as tooth sensitivity, contact Dr. Fadi Farhat so that he can assess your condition and determine whether dental fillings are the best option for you, or other dental filling alternatives would be a better choice in the circumstances.

What to Eat After Getting a Filling

Depending on what type of filling you got, Dr. Fadi Farhat will recommend what or when to eat after the procedure. For example, you may eat immediately if a composite filling was used. This is because such fillings are cured using a special light, so there is no risk if you eat shortly after getting the filling.

However, metal fillings don’t harden as fast, so you may have to wait for about 24 hours before you can safely eat solid food. Regardless of the filling you get, wait until the anesthetic wears off before you eat. Otherwise, you could hurt yourself if you try to eat before the local anesthetic has worn off.

Foods to Avoid After the Procedure

Dental One Care strongly recommends that you avoid eating any chewy, hard, or sticky foods for 24 hours. Staying away from cold and hot foods may also be advisable if you experience tooth sensitivity after the dental filling procedure.

OTC Painkillers

You may also have to use an over-the-counter pain medication, such as Ibuprofen if you experience slight discomfort or pain after getting a dental filling. However, if the pain is severe or persists, bring it to the attention of Dr. Fafdi Farhat for an appropriate remedy.

Do you suspect that you have dental cavities or you were recently diagnosed with this problem? Contact Dental One Care if you live in Sterling Heights, MI. Our highly skilled and experienced professionals will recommend the best remedy to fix the problem before it gets worse and requires more invasive treatment.

6 Signs of Dental Cavities

May 5, 2020 by dental1admin Leave a Comment

Watch Out for These Signs of Dental Cavities

If you have not visited your dentist in Sterling Heights, MI lately, chances are that you have cavities. This is because nearly everyone develops a cavity at some point in their lives, and some people have a higher susceptibility to this dental problem more than others do. Cavities may or may not cause noticeable signs and symptoms, so the best way to know for sure if you have cavities is by visiting your Sterling Heights dentist. Here are some of the possible signs that could alert you to the presence of a cavity.

Bad Breath

Bad breath is one of the most common signs of cavities. This is because cavities are caused by the activity of bacteria in your mouth, and the metabolic activities of the bacteria may cause you to have bad breath. Dr. Fardi Farhat, the best dentist in Sterling Heights, cautions that you visit a professional if you are finding yourself with chronic bad breath.

An Unpleasant Taste in Your Mouth

Dental cavities may be the culprit if you are noticing an unpleasant taste that lingers in your mouth. No amount of brushing or using mouthwash can eliminate this bad taste completely since the problem is entrenched in your mouth. Our friend Dr. Leeson, a St. Pete dentist says deep cavities are particularly notorious for causing this bad taste since the cavity will have reached the nerves and caused those nerves to start dying.

Tooth Pain

Not all cavities will cause you to feel tooth pain, so don’t imagine that you don’t have dental caries if you aren’t experiencing any pain. Cavities can cause pain when they get deep enough to irritate the nerves in your teeth. Tooth pain due to cavities can also be triggered when you eat or drink something hot or cold. It is, therefore, best to see a Sterling Heights dentist if you experience tooth pain or tooth sensitivity.

Dark Spots on Teeth

If you notice a dark spot on your tooth that you hadn’t seen before, it is possible that what you are seeing has been caused by a cavity. However, not everyone is lucky enough to develop that dark spot in a location that can be visible when they look in a mirror, so this observable sign could remain hidden out of sight. If you are one of those who see this dark spot, contact Dental One Care immediately so that Dr. Fardi Farhat can confirm or rule out a cavity, and then offer the appropriate treatment.

Holes in Teeth

As cavities remain untreated for long, they deepen to the extent that you will notice holes in your teeth when you move your tongue over the surface of your teeth. However, not all holes are caused by cavities. Some holes may result from other dental defects, such as a chipped tooth. So, the only way to be certain is to search for a dentist near me online.

The Presence of Pus

If you ever notice pus in your mouth, see Dr. Fardi Farhat immediately. Just to clarify, pus is a yellowish or whitish substance that accumulates around areas where inflammation has occurred. Pus has two major constituents, the first being dead white blood cells that had been sent to deal with the bacteria causing the infection at the site of inflammation. The other constituent is liquor puris, a liquid that is protein-rich. Because pus is often linked to an infection, you are likely to experience other signs of infection, including chills and fevers.

By the time pus forms in a cavity, the decay has progressed so much that an abscess has formed, and you are at risk of sepsis, a potentially life-threatening condition. Prompt medical attention is vital to safeguard you from the grave risk you face, so don’t wait to get in touch with Dr. Fardi Farhat at Dental One Care in Sterling Heights, MI.

Cavities start in a simple enough way, but they can quickly progress to a level at which not just your teeth but your life is at risk as well. A preventive approach is, therefore, the best way to keep on top of the situation, and our team at Dental One Care is waiting to give you the preventive or any other care that you need to restore your dental health if you are found to have a cavity. Give us a call today!

Diabetes and Oral health

March 18, 2020 by dental1admin Leave a Comment

Recent studies show that 29.1 million people living in the U.S have diabetes. That is about 9.3 % of the total population. There are also 1.7 million new cases with each passing year. To top it all off, 8.1 million people do not even know that they have diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes affects your body’s ability to process sugar. Your body transforms all the food you consume into sugar which provides all the energy your body needs. Once you get diabetes your body stops making insulin, which is a hormone that is responsible for carrying sugar from your blood to your cells. Type II diabetes prevents your body from responding to insulin. In both types, your blood sugar levels shoot up which can cause problems in your kidneys, heart, eyes, and nerves.

Symptoms of Diabetes

You may have diabetes if you have frequent thirst, urination, hunger, fatigue, and irritability.

Diabetes can also affect your mouth, if left untreated, in the following ways;

You may notice that your wounds don’t heal as fast as they should
You may face trouble in tasting foods
For children with diabetes, teeth may start to pop up earlier than normal.
You would likely be more vulnerable to infections in your mouth
You may feel the shortage of saliva in your mouth which will make your mouth feel dry.
As saliva acts as a safeguard for your teeth, you could easily get cavities
Your gums would start to bleed

Why People with Diabetes Are More Likely to Get Gum Disease

Every person’s mouth is home to tiny bacteria. It’s normal. If bacteria gets into your gums then it will leave you with periodontal disease which will destroy your gums, all the tissues holding your teeth and bones.

Periodontal disease is the most common dental disease affecting those who have diabetes. With increasing age, poor blood sugar control increases the risk of gum disease.

How Can Your Dentist Help Fight Gum Disease?

Regular dental visits are crucial for maintaining oral health. Dr. Kristina Neda, a dentist in Georgetown, KY, adds that treating gum disease can help diabetes patients maintain their blood sugar levels. Taking care of your oral hygiene and scheduling dental cleaning sessions with your dentist can contribute to lowering your HbA1c which tells you your blood sugar levels hence indicating whether your diabetes is under control.

That is why you should have a good dentist because they can help treat your gum disease or help you in keeping your diabetes under control.

If you have diabetes or suspect that you may be developing gum disease, contact us at Dental One Care in Sterling Heights, MI. Our team will do everything we can to treat your gum disease and improve your oral health.

Why Are Dental Regular Visits Important?

March 16, 2020 by dental1admin Leave a Comment

On normal days you might not even think about your oral health but when you start facing some sort of problems, you’ll likely rush to your Sterling Heights dentist. Well at least you worry enough to get checked out by a professional in serious situations, but you don’t want all your dental clinic visits to be an emergency. You should visit your Sterling Heights dentist regularly. In this article, we answer the most asked question we get: “Why are regular dental visits important?”

Early Warning Signs

It’s best to keep an eye out for anything out of the ordinary, especially when it comes to your oral health. By scheduling appointments with an experienced dentist regularly, you will decrease the likelihood of developing oral diseases. It’s important to detect potential problems before they turn into something serious. Whereas if you only visit your Sterling Heights dentist when the situation gets serious then you might find out that now it is too late and the issue cannot be resolved. If you’re not sure about your oral health state, contact us at Dental One Care. Our team is happy to evaluate you to see what the next steps are.

Preventative Measure

Maintaining your oral health is only possible when you stay on top of your oral hygiene and visit your dentist in Sterling Heights. You should be brushing twice a day for two minutes and flossing a minimum of once a day. Professionals recommend seeing your general dentist every six months. Visiting the dentist regularly means that you are taking a positive step towards keeping your mouth clean and healthy. This is important for both, aesthetic and health reasons. An orthodontist can also give you tips on how to improve brushing habits at home as the method taught to you when you were a child might not be the most effective one.

Visit Dental One Care

Now that you can see why dental visits are important, make sure that you stay on top of your oral health. If you’re looking for a dentist in Sterling Heights, MI, contact Dr. Fardi Farhat’s office. Our team is always welcoming new patients.

Jaw Pain

March 11, 2020 by dental1admin

The majority of adults go through the troubles of facial pain and chronic jaw pain. The most common symptoms of jaw pain are tenderness of the jaw, pain in and around the ear, headaches, and pain eating. There are several causes of jaw pain which makes the problem even worse. Sometimes jaw pain can be challenging to diagnose and treat.

To find out the cause of the pain, you would have to set up an appointment with your Sterling Heights dentist. Dr. Fadi Farhat will most likely perform an X-ray and examine your mouth thoroughly.

Several Things That Lead to Jaw Pain:

Injury
Tooth grinding
Arthritis
Problems with your jaw
Periodontal disease
Infections
Sinus problems

The type of treatment your Sterling Heights dentist decides will depend on the source of your facial pain. Pain can be tolerated and even treated with the following:

Root canal therapy
Antibiotics
Extraction
Mouth protector
Muscle relaxants
Exercises
Periodontal treatment
Anti-Inflammatory drugs

Preventing Jaw Pain

Knowing what triggers the pain in your jaw is crucial to prevent it from returning. Mentioned below are the few ways to stop it from returning once you have got rid of it

Avoiding crunchy foods, gum, or biting fingernails.
Eating soft or liquid foods such as soup or pasta
Take smaller bites of food
Avoiding caffeine
Trying massage, meditation, and aerobic exercise
Avoid grinding your teeth
Seek regular dental care with Dr. Farhat

If you are currently going through the immense pain in your jaw then look no further. Visit Dental One Care in Sterling Heights MI for all your dental care needs. We offer a wide range of dental services!

What is Bruxism?

February 18, 2020 by dental1admin Leave a Comment

Do you wake up with unexplained tenderness in your jaw? Does your significant other tell you that you grind your teeth in your sleep? Dental professionals describe bruxism is the term used to describe teeth clenching or grinding. Bruxism can lead to a number of oral health care concerns, including serious damage to your previously healthy teeth.

The better you understand bruxism and how it can impact more than just your ability to get a restful night, the better you’ll understand the treatment options that you have available to you from your dentist in Sterling Heights MI, Dr. Fadi Farhat.

Causes of Bruxism

There are several causes behind teeth grinding, with stress and anxiety often being the primary factors. If you feel stress and anxious during your waking hours, you are much more likely to feel the effects of the stress during your sleeping hours. This can lead to clenching your jaw in your sleep and also grinding your teeth.

Bruxism can also be attributed to an undiagnosed condition known as sleep apnea. Those who live with this condition experience irregular or paused breathing when they are asleep. A night guard can help many patients with their sleep apnea, but it’s important to undergo a sleep study that can evaluate your unique condition.

Symptoms of Bruxism

Outside of your partner telling you that you grind your teeth in your sleep, there are several other symptoms of bruxism for you to keep in mind.

Frequent headaches in the morning
Tightness, discomfort or pain in the jaw muscles
Unexplained wear and chipping on teeth
Damage to restorative dental work, including fillings and crowns
Loose teeth or the ultimate loss of teeth

Preventing Bruxism

Protecting your teeth from further damage is an essential part of keeping your teeth healthy and your smile bright. First and foremost, your first visit should be to your dentist Sterling Heights MI patients should know. Your dentist will be able to examine your teeth and any damage that may need to be repaired. Keeping on top of tooth damage or gum inflammation can help to prevent tooth loss.

The best preventative solution will be using a custom-fit and professionally made mouthguard. The mouth guard, worn while you sleep, will help to protect your teeth from the nighttime grinding. This will have the positive effect of keeping your tooth enamel healthy and could help you to see a reduction in those headaches that have been plaguing you each morning.

Are you looking to preserve the health of your teeth and protect against teeth grinding? Whether looking for bruxism solutions or orthodontic solutions, you will find that our team at Dental One Care offers a treatment plan that will meet your individual oral health care needs.

To find out more, contact us at Dental One Care to speak to one of our dental professionals. We can answer your questions and schedule your appointment with Dr. Farhat so that you can learn more about bruxism and find the right treatment solution for your needs.

What Is Oral Cancer Screening?

December 5, 2019 by Claire Leave a Comment

Oral cancer screening refers to an annual examination performed by your dentist in Sterling Heights, MI. This screening is used to identify signs of cancerous or precancerous conditions inside your mouth. The purpose of performing this examination is to catch oral cancer early when the odds of a complete cure are highest. At Dental One Care, we routinely perform oral cancer screenings during our patients’ routine visits. In this article, you’ll learn everything you need to know about oral cancer screening.

Why Oral Cancer Screening Is Done

As already mentioned, Dr. Fardi Farhat, an orthodontist in Sterling Heights MI, conducts oral cancer screening to detect oral cancer or lesions that point to the possibility of oral cancer.

These screenings are particularly vital for people who are at a higher risk of developing oral cancer. The risk factors include;

Users of tobacco (cigarettes, chewing tobacco, snuff, cigars, and pipes)
Heavy alcohol drinkers
A history of oral cancer
A history of intense sun exposure (this heightens the risk for lip cancer)

When you visit Dental One Care, ask Dr. Fardi Farhat if you are at risk of developing oral cancer. The dentist in Sterling Heights MI will ask you several questions to ascertain your risk level. If you are found to be at risk, then oral cancer screening may become part of the routine assessments that you undergo at your dental check-up.

Limitations of Oral Cancer Screening

Additional Tests May Be Required

Many people may have sores in their mouths. Dentists in Sterling Heights explain that oral exams may not be sufficient to identify the cancerous or noncancerous sores. Additional tests may be required before a definitive oral cancer diagnosis can be made.

Not All Oral Cancers Are Detectable During Oral Exams

Cancers are abnormal cell growth patterns, and it is unlikely that an oral exam will unearth all the abnormal areas in your mouth. This means that the dentist could miss a cancerous lesion during your oral cancer screening exercise.

The Scientific Community is Still Divided

There is no research yet to confirm that screening for oral cancer can reduce the number of deaths from this condition. However, since the chances of a cure are highest when cancer is detected early, it is wise for you to undergo this screening just in case you are at risk of developing mouth cancer.

What to Expect During Your Oral Cancer Screening

Dr. Fardi Farhat says you aren’t required to prepare anything before the oral cancer screening. The screening fits nicely into the other routine dental care that you receive.

During the oral cancer exam, Dr. Fardi Farhat will look into your mouth carefully. The dentist in Sterling Heights MI does this to detect if there are any visible white or red patches or sores inside your mouth.

If you have removable dentures, our team will ask you to remove them so that the area beneath the dentures can also be examined for sores and patches.

Additional Oral Cancer Screening Tests

Dr. Fardi Farhat may use any of the additional tests below during your oral cancer screening.

Use of a blue dye. You may be asked to rinse your mouth with a blue dye. This special dye is absorbed by any abnormal cells in your mouth, making them turn blue. When the expert at Dental One Care looks into your mouth, he will immediately spot those blue areas.

Use of a light. Alternatively, the dentist may choose to shine a light into your mouth during the oral exam. The abnormal (and potentially cancerous) cells will look white while your normal cells will look dark under this light.

If Dr. Fardi Farhat finds any precancerous lesions or other signs of oral cancer, he may recommend a follow-up visit to Dental One Care to monitor your mouth. Additionally, the Sterling Heights dentist may recommend a biopsy so additional tests can confirm or rule out oral cancer. Fortunately, most lesions turn out to be noncancerous, so don’t be worried if abnormal cells are observed in your mouth. Simply do everything that Dr. Farhat asks you to do. If you still have questions about oral cancer screening, contact us at Dental One Care.

Why Do I Need an Orthodontist?

November 21, 2019 by sterlingheightsdentalcare Leave a Comment

If you are lucky enough to have a beautiful smile, then you have your orthodontist to thank. Orthodontic treatment is a complicated process. It involves changing the facial, jawbones, and soft tissue as the teeth have to be moved into their new positions. Orthodontists go through several orthodontic programs and courses in a period of two to three years so that they can help they can create beautiful smiles for their patients. It is important that patients see their orthodontists regularly because the very foundations of their mouths are at stake.

About Orthodontic Treatment

Orthodontic treatment does not show instant results. The process starts with the examination of your teeth and mouth, and the study of dental records, like X-rays and photos of your teeth.

From the information gathered in these examinations, the orthodontist develops a custom treatment plan. The details of the plan will be shared with you, details will include how long it will last and steps to be taken as a patient, such as scheduling appointments with the orthodontist regularly to ensure the effectiveness of the process.

A Few Orthodontic Treatment Tips

Our friend, Dr. Tim Lyons, an orthodontist in Sacramento, CA, emphasizes the importance of maintaining regular appointments. If regular visits are made, then the orthodontist will be able to identify and deal with possible complications that come with the treatment, if there are any. Appointments are usually scheduled every several weeks to access tooth movement and oral health.

By working together with your orthodontist, the treatment can promise life-changing results. Once you’ve completed your orthodontic treatment, you will feel more confident showing off your smile.

To make sure you achieve your dental goals, you would need to take care of what you are eating and drinking. It is best to avoid sugary drinks like sodas, sweet tea, and energy drinks. It is also important to take care of the brushing and flossing of your teeth as instructed by your orthodontist. Once you start to see the results, you will realize that all the sacrifices and efforts were worth it.

Our team of orthodontists includes professionals who are one of the best in Sterling Heights, MI. When you decide to choose Dental One Care for your orthodontic treatment, you can be assured that your smile is safe with us.

Myths About Oral Cancer

August 28, 2019 by sterlingheightsdentalcare Leave a Comment

6 Myths About Oral Cancer

Does the mention of oral cancer, bring up any particular images or memories in your mind in the same way that other cancers, such as breast cancer and prostate cancer, do? If you don’t think oral cancer is serious cancer, then take a moment and think about the fact that one person dies of oral cancer in the U.S. every hour. That is a whopping 24 people every single day! You can now see how important it is for everyone to get accurate information about this form of cancer so that as many people as possible can be saved from its clutches. Here are some myths about oral cancer that should not detract from your understanding of this condition.

Myth #1: Younger People Cannot Get Oral Cancer

Many people believe that they are too young to suffer from oral cancer. This dangerous myth prevents them from taking the steps that they need to take to detect the disease early enough for successful treatment.

The fact is that while oral cancer is more common among older people, it can affect people of any age, including children and young adults. Dr. Fardi Farhat insists that the best way to be certain that you don’t have oral cancer is to under regular screening for the disease.

Myth #2: Only Smokers Suffer from Oral Cancer

We asked our friend, Dr. Chris Green, a dentist in Parker, CO, about oral cancer. Dr. Green explains smokers are indeed at a heightened risk of acquiring oral cancer, but many other risk factors predispose non-smokers to this cancer. For example, a family history (a child, parent, or sibling suffering from the disease) of oral cancer increases the risk that someone will also have this disease even if they don’t smoke. So, don’t think that you are immune from oral cancer simply because you don’t smoke. See a dentist in Sterling Heights for regular oral cancer screening so that you can be sure that you don’t have the disease.

Myth #3: You Don’t Need to Be Concerned About Oral Cancer If You Don’t Have Pain

It is also wrong to believe that you don’t need to be concerned about oral cancer if you aren’t experiencing any pain.

Pain may be a symptom in some cancers, including oral cancer, but pain alone (or its absence) cannot be relied upon as an indicator of whether someone has oral cancer or not. Some oral cancer lesions don’t cause any pain, so the disease may progress undetected if you are waiting for the pain in order to take action.

The best way to know for sure that you don’t have oral cancer is to undergo oral cancer screening each time you visit Dental One Care for your dental checkup every six months.

Myth #4: Stress Causes Oral Cancer

While everyone could do with a little less stress, the high levels of stress today cannot be blamed for the oral cancer cases we see. Dr. Fardi Farhat emphatically states that to date, no direct link has been found between stress and the development of oral cancer.

However, stress has been linked to other health challenges, such as obesity, high blood pressure, and insomnia. This could probably be the reason why some people have mistakenly linked stress to oral cancer.

Myth #5: You Will Get Oral Cancer If It Runs In Your Family

While dentists in Sterling Heights, MI will tell you that one of the known risk factors for oral cancer is a family history of the disease, this factor doesn’t on its own determine whether someone will get the disease. Several factors, such as one’s diet, alcohol, smoking, exposure to HPV or HIV, often combine to trigger the onset of the disease. It is worth repeating here that having a family history of oral cancer, or any other cancer for that matter, isn’t the only predictor of one’s chances of getting the disease.

Myth #6: Oral Cancer Isn’t Dangerous

When one compares oral cancer to other forms of cancer, such as breast cancer and cancerous brain tumors, one can see that oral cancer isn’t as aggressive as those other cancers. However, Dr. Fardi Farhat stresses that oral cancer is also dangerous as exemplified by the statistic mentioned at the beginning of this blog post that oral cancer kills at least one American every hour. You should, therefore, avoid taking this cancer lightly under the mistaken belief that it isn’t dangerous. Get screened at Dental One Care and start treatment early if you are found to have the disease.

As you can see, it may sometimes be hard to separate fact from myth if you don’t talk to a professional about what you hear or think. It is therefore advisable to visit Dental One Care regularly and put any query you may have about oral cancer to Dr. Fardi Farhat. The Sterling Heights dentist will give you the accurate information that you need, as well as screen you for the disease. Fortunately, chances are high for a complete cure if the disease is caught early, so don’t hesitate to undergo regular screening.