[SS-Traveller]

Originally Posted by vivekiny2k

If it's that, isn't it an awfully long term effect of jalapenos?

Attempting at remote diagnosis (always doubtful), I would suspect a lichenoid tissue reaction to jalapenos.

Till the time that you can get to an allergy clinic or other specialist, avoid peppers in any form, and avoid toothpastes and foodstuff containing mint.

[Tejas@perioimpl]

@ SS-Traveller

More prevalent in India is OSMF due to betel nut chewing and spicy foods. Recommend you explain that more in detail to laymen here.

And also for others, when the term chronic is used, it means over a very long period of time, atleast a couple of years and more. So if you have a sharp tooth irritating you for 10 days, do not panic that you will get affected with a cancerous lesion.

[prince_pervez]

Hey doc, I think it would be great if you let the public know about some kind of symptoms of Oral cancer and the right time to visit a specialist such as you.

[SS-Traveller]

Originally Posted by Tejas@perioimpl

More prevalent in India is OSMF due to betel nut chewing and spicy foods. Recommend you explain that more in detail to laymen here.

Yes, Tejas, I intend to talk about oral submucous fibrosis on this thread soon. Keep watching...

Originally Posted by prince_pervez

Hey doc, I think it would be great if you let the public know about some kind of symptoms of Oral cancer and the right time to visit a specialist such as you.

Oral cancer presents initially with a very innocuous ulcer in the mouth. Very often, it is painless. On the other hand, non-cancerous ulcers are usually painful, but disappear in a period of 10 days or so. But obviously, a cancer doesn't disappear.

So if there is an ulcer or lump that you can feel or see in your mouth, and which has been persisting or growing over a period of more than 3 weeks, get a medical opinion.

An untreated dental or gum infection can also produce a lump or ulcer (or a little point seeping pus - known as a sinus) for a long time - but that's not cancer, although it's pretty common. So don't get alarm bells ringing even if something hasn't healed in 3 weeks - just let a specialist take a look.

[SS-Traveller]

I've been asked this a few times recently: I chew my lower lip, can I develop oral cancer?

It is good that as a first step you are aware of the fact that you do chew your lip. That makes it easier to control the habit. But when you actually chew your lip, do you do it when awake or asleep?

If you chew your lip when awake, it is comparatively easy to control yourself, and you can definitely put in a conscious effort to stop. But if you do it in your sleep, obviously, you cannot check yourself. Even when awake, you might be chewing your lip subconsciously, and only come to your senses when the lip starts to hurt!

Chewing the lip may not start off a cancer very soon, but it frequently damages some of the large number of minor salivary glands located just below the surface of the lip. This will leave you with a blister-like swelling on the lip due to pooling of saliva there - this is called a mucocele or mucus extravasation cyst.

Still can't stop chewing the lip? Ask your dentist to make an oral screen or mouth guard for you. It is a tailor-made device that will fit only your mouth. This will prevent your teeth getting access to your lip, and after a month the habit should stop automatically.

[SS-Traveller]

Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF, OSMF) is a rare fairly common disorder in India, involving the soft tissues inside the mouth. The two known culprits causing OSF are (A) areca nut ('supari'), and (B) (to a lesser extent) chilli peppers ('mirchi'). The condition starts with redness, blistering, soreness and ulceration inside the mouth,with an inability to tolerate even mildly spicy foodstuff.

This is eventually replaced with stiff fibrous tissue bands as the blisters and ulcers heal. The inside of the mouth, especially the cheeks, loses its elasticity, and can become stiff, reducing the opening of the mouth and hindering with eating and speaking. Even the pharynx may occasionally be involved.

OSF is designated as a 'precancerous condition', because studies indicate that a person suffering from OSF has up to a 40X increased potential of developing oral cancer than people without OSF.

[prince_pervez]

Thanks for all the info doc. Sure is helpful. I was talking to some colleagues about mouth cancer, the smoking guns of our team, and they were quite inquisitive about anti-smoking cigarettes and other intakes which makes one irritated towards tobacco as a whole. Mind shedding light on that? Also do chewing gums (boomer etc) cause cancer ? Thanks doc!

[swift8847]

Originally Posted by prince_pervez

they were quite inquisitive about anti-smoking cigarettes and other intakes which makes one irritated towards tobacco as a whole.

Are such things available?

I am not aware.

Have been trying to quit or reduce smoking but have failed all the times.

[SS-Traveller]

The effects of smoking are many-fold on a variety of tissues, from the lips to the lungs. One of the inspirations for my quitting smoking recently was this poster I came across.


When I quit, I used a combination of Nicogum 4mg nicotine chewing gum (chemists sell it over the counter) and a lot of Halls toffees. There are also nicotine skin patches available, as well as herbal cigarettes that don't contain tobacco (haven't located any myself, though). Drugs that help you get over the urge to smoke are also available (Zyban is one brand), but they are expensive and have variable results in different individuals.

I haven't come across any reports of regular chewing gum or bubble gum causing cancers in the mouth - unless, of course, you have sharp edges on your teeth and chronically injure the cheeks/tongue while chewing gum.

It is another story that after 6 weeks off cigarettes, I went back to smoking again. 31st May (World No Tobacco Day) is coming up soon, and that is the Quit-Again Date that I have set for myself! And if it is any consolation, smoking cigarettes causes more deaths by lung cancer than by mouth cancer. Oral cancer is more often caused by chewing tobacco, found in various forms in India like 'zarda', 'khaini', 'gutkha', 'gurakhu' etc.

[loving_alaap]

In Gujarat the incidence of oral cancers is amongst the highest in the world, because, tobacco chewing is extremely common.

[SS-Traveller]

Originally Posted by loving_alaap

In Gujarat the incidence of oral cancers is amongst the highest in the world, because, tobacco chewing is extremely common.

Very true. I've spent over 2 years in Ahmedabad, and the number of cases I've seen is simply astounding. Add to that the huge number of people who are afflicted by OSF, and are ticking time-bombs for developing oral cancer.

Not only tobacco, but also 'supari' (areca nut), and a combination of both ('gutkha'), are the culprits for causing OSF. There was a time in the 60's and 70's when GDC Ahmedabad and Mumbai were major centres of research by American and European investigators, into OSF - they had never seen this disease in their own countries!!

[NetfreakBombay]

Originally Posted by SS-Traveller

OSF

Pardon my ignorance, what is OSF ?

[SS-Traveller]

Originally Posted by NetfreakBombay

Pardon my ignorance, what is OSF ?

Originally Posted by SS-Traveller

Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF, OSMF) is a rare fairly common disorder in India, involving the soft tissues inside the mouth.

Your answer was in a previous post of mine.

[bottle]

Any thoughts on popular mouth wash products like Listerine causing cancer ?

[simply_sunny001]

SS-Traveller and Frank

after reading the thread, i checked my mouth and teeth well and everything seems OK.

but under my tongue there are 2 grey marks and it seems there is some problem.

its the underneath part of the tongue, please suggest as to whats the wrong and intensity and any precautionary measures should i take

or shall i go see my the dentist straightaway ?

thanks