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Anti-mouth Cancer Chemo Breakthrough Welcomed by UK’s Leading Oral Health Charity

A potential development in mouth cancer treatment is to be welcomed, says the organiser of the annual Mouth Cancer Action Month campaign

The British Dental Health Foundation has welcomed results of studies at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University*.

Research has suggested an anti-cancer compound could help treat mouth cancer, a disease which kills one person every five hours in the UK. Studies showed that the compound killed off mouth cancer cells removed from head and neck cancer patients.

Currently just half of those diagnosed with mouth cancer survive beyond five years. Nearly 5,000 are diagnosed in the UK each year.

The new studies – found when scientists tested a drug for its effects on blood cancer and reported in yesterday’s online edition of the Journal of Pathology – will be hoped to mark a significant breakthrough.

The experimental drug involved new chemotherapy agents known as histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors - which limit cell growth.

Lead researcher, Einstein clinician Richard Smith, M.D. said: “This report shows that an HDAC inhibitor is effective on head and neck cancer cell lines, and that is the first step toward use in humans.”

 

Foundation chief executive Dr Nigel Carter received the report enthusiastically saying: “Such news, though very early days, is to be welcomed as the low long-term survival rate from mouth cancer makes the disease one of the deadliest.

“Currently the best chance of beating the cancer comes from early detection, improving survival rates to more than 90 per cent, so it is important to follow the slogan of the Mouth Cancer Action Month campaign: ‘If in doubt, get checked out.’

“Though this research could prove important it is vital that dentists and health professionals continue to perform oral screenings and educate on how to look out for signs of oral cancer.  Maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle also helps to prevent problems developing.”

 

The most common causes of oral cancer are smoking and drinking alcohol to excess, linked to 80 per cent of cases. Research has recently suggested that the human papillomavirus (HPV). transmitted via oral sex, could soon become most common causes of the disease.

Quitting smoking, cutting down on booze and eating a balanced diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables lowers the risk of mouth cancer.

Self-examination is another simple way of looking after yourself. Early warning signs of mouth cancer include ulcers which do not heal within three weeks, red and white patches in the mouth and unusual lumps and swellings in the mouth and neck.

 

Mouth Cancer Action Month 2009 takes place November 1st to November 30th. For more information go online at www.mouthcancer.org or call the National Dental Helpline on 0845 063 1188.

ADA Informs Patients About Osteoporosis Medications and Oral Health

Chicago, March 9, 2009 –Dental patients who have been alarmed or confused by recent news reports about how osteoporosis medications might affect their oral health now have a brochure to help them separate fact from fiction. The American Dental Association (ADA) collaborated with the National Osteoporosis Foundation to create the brochure, “Osteoporosis Medications and Your Dental Health,” which will be available in dental offices this month.

The brochure explains that some patients who have taken bisphosphonates, a common class of drugs taken by those with osteoporosis or low-bone density, have developed bisphosphonate-associated osteonecrosis of the jaw.  Osteonecrosis of the jaw is a rare but serious condition that can cause severe damage to the jawbone. This condition is diagnosed in patients who have an area of exposed bone in the jaw that persists for more than eight weeks, who have no history of radiation therapy to the head and neck and who are taking, or have taken, a bisphosphonate medication.

The chance of developing osteonecrosis of the jaw for patients who take bisphosphonates is unknown; however researchers agree that the chance appears to be very small. In fact, 94 percent of people diagnosed with osteonecrosis of the jaw are cancer patients who are or have received repeated high doses of bisphosphonates intravenously. The remaining 6 percent diagnosed with osteonecrosis of the jaw took oral bisphosphonates.

“Patients who take bisphosphonates for osteoporosis are encouraged to talk to their dentist so that their dentist can show them good oral hygiene practices as well as monitor their oral health,” says Matthew Messina, D.D.S., ADA Consumer Advisor and a general dentist based in Ohio.  “Patients should not stop taking their osteoporosis medications without speaking with their physicians.”

According to the ADA, the benefits of osteoporosis medications greatly outweigh the risks of developing osteonecrosis of the jaw.

Osteoporosis is a serious condition that causes 2 million bone fractures a year, according to the National Osteoporosis Foundation. Half of women and 20 percent of men older than 50 will break a bone due to osteoporosis.  Bisphosphonates are commonly prescribed to prevent broken bones. Common bisphosphonate medications include alendronate (Fosamax®), ibandronate (Boniva®), risedonate (Actone®) and zoledronic acid (Reclast®).

The “Osteoporosis Medications and Your Dental Health” brochures will be available in dental offices or for purchase by dentists on the ADA’s Web site at www.ada.org. For more information about osteonecrosis of the jaw, please visit the ADA’s Web site at www.ada.org/prof/resources/topics/osteonecrosis.asp or the National Osteoporosis Foundation’s Web site at www.nof.org.

Survey Finds Smile Is “Most Attractive” Physical Feature. Men, Women Differ in Oral Health Care Habits

CHICAGO, Feb. 11, 2009—Valentine’s Day is around the corner, and what do people find most attractive in others? The smile. A national survey from the American Dental Association and Crest® and Oral B® finds that the smile outranked eyes, hair and the body as the most attractive physical feature.

Yet men and women differ when it comes to taking care of their teeth and gums. The nationally representative survey of 1,000 Americans ages 18 and older found 86 percent of women brush their teeth twice or more a day, yet only 66 percent of men do so.

The survey also found that women say they change their toothbrush or power toothbrush head every 3-4 months on average, yet men hang on to theirs an average of 5 months. The ADA recommends replacing toothbrushes every 3-4 months or when the bristles become frayed since frayed and worn bristles decrease cleaning effectiveness.

Sadly, all Americans need to do a better job of flossing their teeth. Only half of those surveyed (49 percent) say they floss their teeth once a day or more often. And 1 out of 3 people surveyed think a little blood in the sink after brushing their teeth is normal, yet it’s not—it could signal gum disease or another health problem.

Oral health is an important part of overall health. Regular dental check-ups are important not only to diagnose and treat gum disease and tooth decay, but also because some diseases or medical conditions, such as oral cancer, have symptoms that can appear in the mouth.

Growing research indicates there may be an association between oral health and serious health conditions such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes, underscoring the importance of good oral hygiene habits.

“We need to constantly get the word out how important it is to stay on top of your oral health,” says Dr. Ada Cooper, an ADA consumer advisor and practicing dentist in New York City. “Brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, flossing daily, eating a balanced diet, and visiting your dentist regularly can help keep your smile healthy.”

For more information on the survey findings and other oral health information, visit the American Dental Association’s Web site at: www.ada.org

Credit Crunch Fears Could Harm Children's Oral Health

Britain’s leading oral health charity has warned that false economising runs the risk of harming the nation’s health.

Knee-jerk calls to economise, indicated by this week’s headlines criticising a £700,000 investment in preventative health care by North Staffordshire Primary Care Trust, fail to look at the bigger picture, say the British dental Health Foundation.

The five year scheme at North Staffordshire PCT aims to arm under-fives with a toothbrush and the necessary skills to maintain good oral health throughout their life.

The Trust’s decision to invest, applauded by the Foundation, marks a scheme designed to combat poor oral health among youngsters in the area. Five year-olds in the area had 1.3 decayed, missing or filled teeth, on average.

The Foundation, at the vanguard of public advice into good oral health and preventative care throughout its 38 years, encourages such commitment to dental health across the industry.

Chief executive of the Foundation, Dr Nigel Carter BDS LCS (RCS) said: “This campaign invests £15 per child per year, just four pence per day. Preventative care such as this is vital.

“The first cavity a person experiences determines their dental health needs for the rest of their lives. Early investment can save huge sums in healthcare later in life and free dental access my minimising the frequency of visits per patient and complexity of treatments.

“Such schemes go some way to explaining why Britain is at the top of the World Health Organisation’s list for oral health among under-12s.

“With evidence stressing more strongly than ever the links between oral health and overall health, the need for good dental care habits is clear.

“The economic downturn has affected all of us, but we should not allow the situation to affect health needs. The Foundation welcomes investment in dentistry, something the public have wanted, and deserve.”