| The Great American Smokeout |
November 17 is the day that the American Cancer Society has chosen to mark the 36th Great American Smokeout, a day when smokers are encouraged to quit or begin a plan to quit smoking.
Oral cancer kills one person per hour in this country alone, with over 36,000 new diagnoses each year (Oral Cancer Foundation). Of that number, only about half will be alive in five years. In other words, oral cancer has a 50% five-year survival rate.
Oral cancer is an equal-opportunity disease that crosses all demographic boundaries. Academy Award-winning actor Michael Douglas was diagnosed with a tumor in his throat in 2010 even though he quit smoking in 2006. The risk of developing oral cancer is higher in those with a history of smoking than in those who never smoked but lower than those who don't quit. So it's never too late!
According to the website for the Oral Cancer Foundation, "Oral cancer is routinely discovered late in its development" causing the death rate to be particularly high for this type of cancer.
If you are a smoker, there are ways to decrease your odds of becoming one of these grim statistics. Reduce your alcohol consumption and improve your diet; both are oral cancer risk factors. In addition to quitting, get regular dental checkups. We can spot issues before you may become aware of them yourself. To maximize the chance of survival, there is no substitute for early detection.
Join the thousands of other Americans who plan to quit on November 17. If you need support or would like additional resources for quitting, ask us! |
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| Toothy Tid-Bits
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Give Thanks for Healthy Teeth!
November is one of my favorite months because it contains Turkey Day (Thanksgiving)! I love all of the yummy food prepared on this day and, wouldn't ya know, it's good for you, too! Here's a quick breakdown:- Carrots and Celery: These foods are rich in fiber. Besides being excellent for your stomach, fiber also stimulates your gums, which contributes to a healthy mouth.
- Cranberries: Recent studies have shown that cranberry juice hinders bacteria from sticking to your teeth, therefore helping to prevent tooth decay!
- Sweet Potatoes/Mashed Potatoes: These guys are loaded with vitamins and minerals needed for a happy and healthy mouth, and they don't stick to your teeth like other starchy foods.
- Turkey: we all know how turkey makes us drowsy, but did you know stress negatively affects the health of your gums? One of the best ways to fight stress is to get enough sleep….. So don't fight the tryptophan, give in and take a little snooze because your gums will be so much happier.
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! I'm definitely giving lots of thanks for each and every one of you.-Jocelyn Codington, RDH
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| Did you know? |
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- Sean Keaney was born in 1990 (UK) with 12 baby teeth - at birth! Considering that we only get 20 baby teeth, that's one toothy newborn!
- Kanchan Rajawat (India) and Luca Meriano (Italy) each had 35 adult teeth as of 2008. The usual adult compliment: 32 (four of which are wisdom teeth).
- Do you have a big mouth? Well, try this on: Francisco Domingo Joaquim, owner of the title of widest mouth measures 6.69" - that's more than half a foot wide!
- And finally, in 2004, a total of 1,470 people flossed their teeth for 55 seconds on a single line of dental floss measuring 6,000 ft (1.13 miles!) at an elementary School in North Carolina.
www.guinnessworldrecords.com
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Dr. Layer and his highly trained team would love to hear from you and answer your questions. Simply click the "submit question" link below this message. Referrals are appreciated.
Jacob O. Layer DMD, PC | www.layerdental.com
| 541-734-0970
1485 East McAndrews Rd., Medford, OR 97504
Copyright © 2005-2011 Jacob O. Layer DMD, PC and WEO MEDIA. All rights reserved.
Jacob O. Layer DMD, PC, dentist Medford OR, dentist Rogue Valley OR, dentist Jackson County OR, dental Medford OR, dental Rogue Valley OR, dental Jackson County OR, cosmetic dentistry Medford OR, cosmetic dentistry Rogue Valley OR, cosmetic dentistry Jackson County OR, Dental Crowns Medford OR, Dental Crowns Rogue Valley OR, Dental Crowns Jackson County OR, Dental Implants Medford OR, Dental Implants Rogue Valley OR, Dental Implants Jackson County OR, 1485 East McAndrews Rd., Medford, OR, 97504, dentist Medford OR, dentist Rogue Valley OR, dentist Jackson County OR, dental Medford OR, dental Rogue Valley OR, dental Jackson County OR, cosmetic dentistry Medford OR, cosmetic dentistry Rogue Valley OR, cosmetic dentistry Jackson County OR, Dental Crowns Medford OR, Dental Crowns Rogue Valley OR, Dental Crowns Jackson County OR, Dental Implants Medford OR, Dental Implants Rogue Valley OR, Dental Implants Jackson County OR, 541-734-0970, dentist Medford OR, dentist Rogue Valley OR, dentist Jackson County OR, dental Medford OR, dental Rogue Valley OR, dental Jackson County OR, cosmetic dentistry Medford OR, cosmetic dentistry Rogue Valley OR, cosmetic dentistry Jackson County OR, Dental Crowns Medford OR, Dental Crowns Rogue Valley OR, Dental Crowns Jackson County OR, Dental Implants Medford OR, Dental Implants Rogue Valley OR, Dental Implants Jackson County OR, www.layerdental.com
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