Cancer is defined as an uncontrolled division of the cells and this causes invading of the other neighboring tissues in any region of the body. This condition usually can spread to any other part of the body through lymphatic system or the blood stream. Generally cancers can occur due to abnormal changes referred to as Mutations in the DNA of the cells, or also through genetic variations.

Now coming to Oral cancer, It is a cancerous condition that is seen in the oral cavity. There are nearly 4/10 million cases of Oral cancer diagnosed every year around the world.
Here i am stating out the overview with the types, causes, symptoms of Oral cancers with a few pictures.

Oral cancer can arise initially as a primary lesion in the tissue. It may originate from various places, main which are included are Salivary gland, lymphoid tissue, tonsillar tissues or the cells of oral mucosa.
Based on these things, Oral cancer is classified into the following -
1. Teratoma - Which is caused from the histology of the oral tissues.
2. Adenocarcinoma - That occurs from the Saliva and tonsillar tissue or any one of them.
3. Melanoma - Occurring from the pigment producing cells of the oral mucosa.

Then would just talk a few major points that lead to Oral cancer,
Causes of Oral Cancer -
- Tobacco, the most common cause for Oral cancer, which is almost considered to be the cause for about 75% of the cases of Oral cancers, which might include the Smoking tobacco and non-smoking or chewing tobacco. Tobacco has nearly 20 carcinogens and its combustion can damage the oral tissues.
- Alcohol, heavy drinking of which can cause oral cancer. These have a synergistic effect on person if he is a regular smoker plus an alcohol drinker. Smoking + Drinking together increases the risk of Oral cancer by 15 times.
- Human Papilloma Virus, called HPV, which is of more than 100 varieties is also one of the risk factors for cause of Oral cancer. The same virus of 16/18 varieties also is known for spreading cervical cancers.
- Studies have shown that a diet low in fruits and vegetables may put you more at risk for oral cancer, and other studies indicate that a diet high in fruits and vegetables may protect against many types of cancer.
- Prolonged exposure to the sun increases the risk of lip cancer.

It is also necessary to discuss about the Symptoms of all the different stages of Cancer, listed down -
Symptoms of Oral Cancer -
1. Lesions in the skin of tongue, lip or any other mouth area.
2. Early symptom includes a white patch or red patch in the soft tissues of the mouth.
3. When the tumor starts increasing, there is a burning sensation.
4. In the later stages, it involves tongue problems, difficulty in swallowing
5. Pain and paraesthesia(numbness of the areas).
6. Loose teeth.
7. Rough, crusty or eroded spot that doesn’t heal.
8. Change in the way teeth fit together.
9. Any oral change or soreness that doesn’t go away or heal within two weeks.

There are a few serious treatments that have been partly or mostly successfully in the Recent times
Treatment of Oral Cancer or oral surgery -
1. Glossectomy, which involves the removal of the part of tongue or the complete tongue is it is completely affected.
2. Radical neck dissection, in which there is removal of lymph nodes and other structures in the head and neck that are likely or proven to be malignant.
3. Mandibulectomy, in which the affected parts or the whole of the mandible(lower jaw) is removed.
4. Maxillectomy, in which the affected parts or the whole of the maxilla(upper jaw) is removed.
5. Moh’s procedure - Performed on cancers involving the skin in the oral region.
6. Laryngectomy, where the part or whole of the larynx is removed if it is affected with cancer.

This article was provided by Dr. Chetan and can be re-published with this link retained.

I have been asked by a few people to post something that relates to maintenance of oral hygiene, and tips to maintain clean and healthy teeth. And today finally i could compile 9 best ways by which teeth can be maintained well and can be kept healthy. Here are all those listed in a random order.

1. Brush Regularly - The first and foremost thing a person should do is to Brush their teeth regularly. A normal count of 3 times per day would be good. i.e. Morning, After Meals and after dinner or before going to bed. Also, there are quite a few fluoride products that are available in market which you can use in the Night which helps in preventing cavities in the teeth.
If you want to know what this means, check Toothbrush and Toothpaste. Make sure your toothbrush has soft bristles, which does not damage your enamel layer, or remove it away. Check how to brush your Teeth.

2. Floss Regularly - This is also a nice and effective way of getting rid of any food particles from the surface of the teeth and the gaps between the teeth. They clean all the grooves of the teeth and prevent tooth decay. Any type of floss can be used for flossing. Read more about Dental Floss.

3. Use Fluoride Rinse method - There is a rinse available which helps in preventing decay of the tooth and also helps in Strengthening the outer enamel of the teeth. The hypersensitivity of the dentin layers also gets decreased due to rinse. Stannous fluoride dental rinse are available for this purpose.
Here is a technique for using a rinse - Brush and floss the teeth thoroughly before using the dental rinse. Measure 1/8 ounce into the mixing vial provided with the rinse; add water to the 1 fl. oz. mark and mix; use half of the measured dental rinse in the mouth and vigorously swish around and between the teeth for one minute, then spit out. This process has to be done once or twice a day. The dental rinse should not be swallowed, and 30 minutes before or after using rinse, no food should be taken in. If not taken in recommended amounts, a few side effects could occur.

4. Try to avoid Soda, and Cola like drinks. As the Cola drinks contain acids like Citric acid, and phosphoric acid. They slowly react with the teeth and dissolve them. These drinks have corrosive effect on the teeth.
You can have these soft drinks, which are originally hard, but just don’t become addicted to those kind of drinks.
* Milk, Water and Juices - These would be the best substitues for the Soft drinks. Milk also helps in promoting stronger jaw bones, and also strengthens teeth. Water is pure as always and does not contain Micro Organisms. And sometimes a few dentists say that Juice is as harmful as Cola, as it also contains organic acids.

5. Avoid chewing tobacco and smoking - This is one of the Major cause for tooth and complete oral tissue damage. The tobacco powder and its smoke causes stains on teeth and they weaken the teeth. chewing of tobacco can lead to discoloration of teeth and sometimes this tobacco is also responsible for the dangerous Oral Cancer. So, avoiding tobacco related products is the best.

6. Chewable gums - These are of 2 kinds, One which are specifically made to chew after meals and these help in cleaning of the teeth. And the other gums, are the sweet ones which increases sugar content and attract micro-organisms onto the teeth and they cause decay of the teeth. It would be better to decrease these kind of sweet gums.

7. Avoid Alcohol - There are several things that can occur when Alcohol is consumed, most are effects on the oral organs like Irritation of the gum, tongue and oral tissues; Poor healing after dental surgery; Increase in tooth decay; Increases risk toward periodontal (gum) disease.
Heavy drinkers have the risk of developing Cancer in mouth, and some other organs in the body.

8. Healthy Diet Consumption - Having proper and healthy food not only helps in maintaining fitness and getting a perfect body, but also helps in maintaining your oral structures very well. It helps in having mouth well-lubricated and taking extra care of your teeth and gums. You should always have water after intake of food, so temporary cleaning of teeth can be done.

9. Visit a Dentist at least twice an year - There is no place where Dentists are not available. You have to go for an oral check up at least every 6 months, to check everything’s fine with your teeth and oral structures. A normal checkup doesn’t cost much, and is very helpful.

This article was provided by Dr. Chetan and can be re-published with this link retained.

Please do let me know how you rate the article, and was this helpful? It would help me in gaining more interest in writing things of this kind.

Here are a few dental related terms and their explanations which i wrote on myself, so that they can be easily understood by a normal person

ToothPaste - The mouth is the most important part of our body as all the food we consume to keep ourselves in good health has to pass through our mouth so to keep it clean with out bacteria n other micro organisms we need to clean it daily with a toothpaste having the required ingredients in it.
Toothpaste is a gel that helps to improve the health and aesthetic conditions of the tooth. Read More About ToothPaste..

Dental caries - Dental caries is defined as a tooth decay which leads to damage of the tooth structure either a part of the tooth or the whole tooth.
This can lead to many conditions such as severe pain in the tooth, tooth loss, tooth infection, and finally can lead to death. Dental caries can occur mainly due to improper food intake, and diet changes.
It is one of the most common dental diseases and problems that occur in the whole world. Read More About Dental caries..

Dental insurance - Dental insurance is a contract plan through which, if any damage occurs to dental related structures of the mouth, the company pays for the care and repair of it. Read More About Dental Insurance..

Toothbrush - Toothbrush is a kind of instrument used all over the world, to clean the teeth and maintain oral hygiene. It has a handle, and a brush in its head which has bundles of soft or hard bristles which clean the teeth.
The bristles on the toothbrush can be of various kinds, depending on their thickness and length. Firm bristles on the toothbrush can damage the tooth structure and can remove the enamel layer of the teeth, so normally dentists advice to use a toothbrush with soft bristles. Read More About ToothBrush..

Oral cancer - Oral cancer is a condition that involves an abnormal tissue groth in the oral tissues. Cancer relates to abnormal poplulation of the cells in a particular region, and in oral cancer, it occurs in the mouth. This may occur in any part of the mouth.

This cancer can be either -
1. teratoma, that results from the histology of the tissues.
2. adenocarcinoma, that results from the salivary glands, or the tonsillar tissues.
3. melanoma, that occurs from the pigment producing cells of the oral mucosa.

Read More About Oral Cancer..

Yesterday night was something terrible in our city center, where 2 bomb blasts  took place  in high traffic areas, one in a place called Gokul Chat, where many people hangout to have some hot snacks. The other blast took place in Lumbini park, a tourist spot and there a laser show was going on.

There were more than 30 people feared dead and more than 60 people were injured. These blasts occured near 8:10pm in the night. The injured were shifted to hospitals. The condition of many is said to be critical. Medical and para-medical staff at the Osmania General Hospital were struggling to cope with the situation.

40 engineering students from Nasik were watching the laser show together in Lumbini park and the blast took place near them.

The police arrested 4 people related to these blasts, but nothing is clear. And now, it has become hard for us to go to the city center places, and the most visited places where in open areas these kind of blastings are taking place. If this bomb was more severe, the Secretariat in front of Lumbini park would also have rocked.

People should be safe, and be alert in public places, or else it is just unsafe everywhere.

There are several reasons why people generally visit a dentist, but the most common are like cleaning or scaling of teeth, extraction of decayed tooth etc.

Here i am listing out some things why someone would opt to go for a dentist’s clinic:

• 1. When there is a toothache, probably due to decay of the tooth or bleeding of the gums.
• 2. Scaling of any bad looking teeth. Probably occurs when there is excessive intake of tobacco like things which adhere to the tooth surface and lead to decaying.
• 3. Checking of cavities - To check any cavities in the teeth, which generally can be found out by the dentist rather than the patient checking themselves.
• 4. To get a tooth knocked out - Generally to replace a decayed tooth or to just extract a tooth temporarily.
• 5. To have Root Canal Treatment done - This is done when the pulp cavity gets damaged, and the contents are removed and inert materials are placed there, and the cavity is sealed and covered with a crown.
• 6. General oral check up - No reason for this!
• 7. When there is a sensitivity and yellowing of the tooth - this happens when any hard or abrasing material is chewed and it causes to remove the top enamel layer of the tooth, and the dentin(yellow) is exposed off. It has dentinal tubules which get sensitivity when touched.
• 8. Fluoride Treatments - To prevent cavities and to maintain general oral hygiene.
• 9. When a tooth is chipped off, broken during accident, knocked out, patient in any case would have to go to the dental clinic for the repairment.
• 10. Bleeding gums disease called as Gingivitis, one of the most common disease occuring in the mouth around the whole world.

There might be few other reasons, but i could share by myself these reasons.
Please comment if you feel there are more reasons for a patient to visit a dentist.

Ok, so i have got many requests from people and my friends like khushal to post something related to personal hygiene, and that too related to my topic, i.e. teeth care.

Here i share some nice information on how to brush your teeth properly, which would help to keep your teeth clean, in good condition, and also help in decreasing tooth decay.

Brushing is essential for cleaning teeth and gums effectively. Use a toothbrush with soft, nylon, round-ended bristles that will not scratch and irritate teeth or damage gums. For those who want to know what a tooth brush is -
It is a rod like structure which has bristles in its head which when run against the teeth surface, cleans them.
Then the other main thing that is required is a Tooth Paste, as only toothbrush can harm the teeth, tooth paste improve the aesthetic appearance and health of teeth. It is almost always used in conjunction with a toothbrush. Toothpaste use can promote good oral hygiene.

Process of Brushing:
1. Apply the toothpaste onto the bristles of the toothbrush.
2. Place the brush at an angle of 45-degree against the anterior teeth i.e. the incisors and canines.
3. Ususally the anterior teeth are to be brushed vertically, as suggested by the dentists. Because horizontal brushing has 2 effects on the oral structures, firstly horiontal brushing can remove off the enamel, secondly the bristles as they are sharp, they can get into the tiny gaps between the teeth and the gums. So, proper care has to be taken while brushing the anterior teeth, as they are one of your beauty spot markers on your face.
4. Use short, back-and-forth brushing motions to clean the outside and inside surfaces of the teeth, as well as the chewing surfaces. Follow with up-and-down motions to clean the inside surfaces of the front teeth.
5. Use the “toe” of the brush to clean the inside surfaces of the front teeth, using a gentle up-and-down stroke.
6. The occlusal surfaces of the pre-molars and the molars are to be brushed by horizontal brushing movements.

Precaution:
1. Do not apply much pressure. Most often people think that applying pressure would help in better cleaning of the teeth, but they dont realise how much sensitive the oral tissues are, until they see some bleeding from below the teeth, so be gentle while brushing the teeth.
2. Brush tongue to remove bacteria and freshen your breath. Not with the brushing bristles but there are tongue-cleaners available to do that.

Dental flossing:
Dental floss is either a bundle of thin nylon filaments or a plastic (teflon or polyethylene) ribbon used to remove food and dental plaque from teeth. The floss is gently inserted between the teeth and scraped along the teeth sides, especially close to the gums. Dental floss is flavored or unflavored, and can be waxed or unwaxed.
The dental floss is held between the fingers. It can be difficult to grasp floss due to the tension required to push between certain teeth, and reducing friction as the fingers and floss become wet from saliva.

To keep a hold, the floss can be wrapped around one or both fingers. Doing this on or above the first joint allows that finger to be used in conjunction with the thumb in a traditional pinch grip, to reduce excessive tension on the skin. Wrapping dental floss too tight as a tourniquet reduces circulation.
Many people floss dozen times a day, which is like an addiction, but it is advised not to floss many times. It also reduces the life of the oral structures.

I will be sharing information about dental implants soon.