The link between smoking and lung cancer is well known, but did you know that the bad breath that accompanies a smoking habit could be an early sign of oral cancer? In case you needed another good reason to quit, the oral health experts at Oahu Dental Care are here to explain more about the relationship between smoking, bad breath, and oral cancer.

Oral cancer is a broad term that encompasses cancer that develops in the mouth, throat, salivary glands, tongue, or lip. Unfortunately, oral cancer is extremely difficult to detect; its early symptoms are often painless or mimic the symptoms of a toothache. Frequently, cases of oral cancer are quite advanced by the time they are detected by a medical professional.

Fortunately, there’s good news: if the signs of oral cancer are caught early on, it’s almost always treatable. This is where the twice-yearly visits to your dentist that the American Dental Association recommends come in handy. Dentists are trained to spot oral health issues that are potentially problematic, including the signs of oral cancer.

One of the early signs of oral cancer is bad breath. Tobacco use is a top risk factor for this disease, so it’s best to quit using tobacco altogether. While quitting is admittedly difficult, the long-term health benefits are well worth it.

For over 25 years, the staff at Oahu Dental Care has been providing dental care services and oral health education to patients in the Pearl City and Honolulu areas. The team believes that everyone should have access to superior care regardless of their budget, and you can count on the professionals at Oahu Dental Care to offer treatment plans that are affordable. They offer a wide variety of dental care services, including teeth whitening, root canal procedures, preventive care, periodontal exams, and more.

For more information or to schedule an appointment at one of their two locations, visit the Oahu Dental Care website or call (808) 732-2821 today.