Incorporating a simple three-minute habit into your daily routine can have a significant impact that goes beyond maintaining your oral health. Experts suggest that this small step could potentially reduce the risk of oral cancer in the long run. This practice, which complements the areas where brushing your teeth falls short, could be the key to safeguarding not only your teeth but also your overall health.
According to experts, oral health and hygiene play a significant role in the risk of oral cancer.
Oral cancer is defined as cell growth that can start in the lips, gums, tongue, inside of the cheeks, or the roof and floor of the mouth. Symptoms include non-healing sores, white or red patches inside the mouth, loose teeth, pain or swelling, and difficulty swallowing.
Pascucci states, 'Brushing your teeth only cleans about 60% of the tooth surfaces. The plaque buildup in between doesn't just lead to cavities and gum diseases, but it can also trigger oral infections and, in some instances, oral cancer due to bacteria and inflammation.'
It is recommended to use dental floss at least once a day. A good oral hygiene routine includes brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and cleaning between the teeth at least once a day using an interdental brush or dental floss.
Research, although not directly establishing a cause-effect relationship, indicates that poor oral health may be associated with certain oral cancers by increasing chronic inflammation.