As most of you know October is breast cancer awareness month. This month is important to increase awareness of this disease. The mission is to help those who are affected by breast cancer through early detection, education. And support. We have many patients that sit in our dental chair that have either been affected or have a family member or a friend that has been affected.
As you know there has been many research linking oral health with systemic health. Therefore it is beneficial to be aware of how taking care of yourself and being on time for your medical and dental check-ups can make a major difference.
A study was done linking periodontal disease to breast cancer. According to the author the link was found between the type of bacteria found and the cancer exist. (http://www.dentistryiq.com/articles/2016/01/breast-cancer-and-periodontal-disease-is-there-a-connection.html )
What are the symptoms?
There are different for every person and some people don’t have symptoms.
- Most common seen is pain in any area of the breast
- If you notice any lumps in the breast
- Any other signs that may worry you
What are the symptoms for periodontal disease?
- Inflammation of the gums
- Bad breath
- Bleeding of the gums
- Mobility of the teeth
How to lower your risk?
- Get regular annual medical exams in order to find the cancer in the early stages and preventing it from getting worse
- Getting regular checkup and dental hygiene cleanings