Unless you’re a heavy drinker or smoker, you might not think much about oral cancer, but it can affect others as well. In fact, it has become the sixth most common type of cancer in the United States. Unfortunately, it has a high mortality rate with around 50 percent of oral cancer patients dying within five years of the initial diagnosis.

So what can you do about oral cancer? How can you make sure you’re not part of that morbid statistic? Understanding the signs and taking the right measures in your life can help you avoid it or at least discover it sooner rather than later. Keep reading to learn more!

One day as you brush your teeth and spit, you notice some blood mixed in. You take a closer look at your mouth and see that your gums are red and puffy, instead of pink. You start to worry—maybe cancer runs in your family, or maybe you smoke or drink a lot of alcohol, which puts you at an increased risk. Could this be oral cancer or gingivitis (i.e., gum disease)? How can you tell?

Here is some useful information to help you identify the issue and know what to do.

Did you know about 54,000 Americans will be diagnosed with oral cancer this year? Unfortunately, this disease kills the equivalent of one person every hour every day. Needless to say, it would be helpful to understand who is particularly at risk for this deadly form of cancer. Read on to learn more about oral cancer and why early diagnosis is so essential.

You’re getting ready to go out and shovel snow off your driveway. You put on several layers of clothing to brace yourself against the cold. But when you open the door and breathe in, you feel a twinge of discomfort in your mouth and reluctantly step outside.

Winter can be a rough time of year for many people, but did you know that the dry, cold conditions can make caring for your smile more difficult? Read on to learn about various winter mouth issues and how you can keep smiling through it all.

You’ve heard it before—you should visit a dentist every six months. Whatever your reason for skipping this appointment, you decide to wait to see the dentist until you notice a problem. However, this is a huge mistake!

These appointments are critical for early detection of oral health problems. Every time you visit the dentist, you’re doing more than just getting your teeth polished; you are also being examined for serious conditions. In this post, you’ll learn what some of those conditions are and why you need to get preventive care.

In the wake of the pandemic, you may be looking around for a new job. There are plenty available right now! If you’re like most job seekers nowadays, you’re looking for a company that offers you more than just a decent salary. You want an employer that believes in having healthy, happy employees and provides good benefits like substantial medical and dental insurance.

How do you know they’re offering good dental and medical insurance? While you’re interviewing for a new job, it might be helpful to understand the difference between these types of insurance so that you can ask the right questions and get the answers you need to know. Keep reading to learn about dental insurance and how you can gain the most from your coverage once you get the job.

Do you have a cup or more of coffee every day? According to the National Coffee Association about 70 percent of American adults consume coffee daily. If you’re among the majority who can’t live without their warm cup in the morning, there’s a holiday coming that you’ll definitely want to observe. September 29 is National Coffee Day, where everyone celebrates their favorite beverage. But did you know that your daily fix could be damaging your smile? Here are the things you should know about how coffee impacts your oral health and what you can do about it.

You know the drill. You’ve gone to the dentist every six months for basically your whole life. The dental assistant takes X-rays of your teeth, the dental hygienist cleans your teeth, and the dentist examines your mouth. But during this visit, something is different—the dental assistant takes your blood pressure. What does that have to do with your smile? Why are they implementing this new step in your appointment? Read on to learn three good reasons why your dentist wants to know this information.

As you get ready to go to your six-month dentist’s appointment, you look at your teeth in the mirror. They look fine to you—no cavities that you can see or feel. You wonder whether you really need to go. You absolutely do! This checkup is about so much more than just examining your teeth for cavities, cracks, or chips. Here are four important things you didn’t know that your dentist does during your checkup appointment!

Your eye color. Your blood type. Your height. There are many things about you that uniquely result from your parents, grandparents, and others in your family tree. But what about your smile? Are “bad teeth” genetic? Sometimes the genes you’re born with include unfortunate traits too—like having poor oral health regardless of how hard you try. In this post, you’ll learn more about how your genes can affect your teeth and gums and what you can do to keep your smile strong.