April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month. Researchers have found that people who suffer from severe periodontal disease double the risk of having pre-cancerous lesions and have four times greater risk of developing an oral tumor. Surviving oral cancer, like most cancers, depends on the stage of the disease at diagnosis. If periodontal disease is diagnosed and treated, the risk of oral cancer decreases.
Dentists treat periodontal disease in various ways; non-surgically, with lasers, and surgically. Perio Protect is a minimally invasive treatment disease. Patients use prescription medication in Perio Trays that enable the medication to reach deep into periodontal pockets and fight bacteria infection. The trays are similar to at-home whitening trays.
Patients must wear Perio Tays at home, as prescribed for the severity of gum disease. Medicine in the trays will combat unhealthy oral bacteria and can treat some side effects of gum disease, such as inflammation and bone damage. Depending on the severity of the disease, trays are worn one to several times daily for 10 minutes at a time.
The main goal of Perio Protect is to minimize the presence of bad bacteria in the mouth. Data suggests that the method actually eliminates the bad bacteria completely. Perio Protect helps patients with gum disease avoid surgery. However, sometimes surgery is necessary. Perio Protect can be used in conjunction with surgery to treat serious cases of periodontal disease.
I’m Dr. Corbet Locke, a Perio Protect provider in Waco. If you suffer from red, swollen, bleeding gums, you may be suffering from periodontal disease. Contact my Waco, TX dentist office at (254)776-4888 to schedule an appointment. Don’t let periodontal disease increase your risk of oral cancer.