There’s nothing like a hot cup of coffee on a cold winter’s day. When children wake up on Christmas morning, just dying to open up their gifts, parents often say, wait until I brew a pot of coffee. Knoxville dentist, Dr. Jim Erpenbach, recognizes the mixed messages that the health industry sends out regarding coffee. On…
There’s nothing like a hot cup of coffee on a cold winter’s day. When children wake up on Christmas morning, just dying to open up their gifts, parents often say, wait until I brew a pot of coffee. Knoxville dentist, Dr. Jim Erpenbach, recognizes the mixed messages that the health industry sends out regarding coffee. On one hand, you may hear it’s good for your heart, but it also causes anxiety and stains on your teeth. There’s another score for coffee though, as recent research has shown that coffee may lower your risk of oral/pharyngeal cancer.
Oral Cancer Prevalence
Oral cancer is one of the more difficult illnesses to diagnose. The malignancy can affect the mouth and/or throat, yet few symptoms are obvious in the early stages. Unfortunately, this is when the disease is the easiest to fight. When oral/pharyngeal cancer goes undetected, by the time symptoms show up, the fight can be much more challenging. The best thing you can do to be proactive is to visit your dentist every six months. Dr. Erpenbach will do a thorough oral cancer screening at all of your checkups. You should also take note of any unusual bumps, sores, or lesions in your mouth.
Less Cancer in Coffee Lovers
The American Cancer Society (ACS) in Atlanta, Georgia released information this year on coffee’s relationship to mouth and throat cancer. The head scientist was Janet Hildebrand who led a team of fellow scientists in compiling data on lifestyle and health information. The various facts and figure were a compilation of questionnaires answered by 968,432 mixed gender volunteers. A lower risk (49%) of mouth and throat cancer was apparent in people who drank at least four cups of coffee each day.
Schedule a Dental Checkup in Knoxville
If you have any suspicious sores in your mouth, you will receive an oral cancer screening at the same time as your regular dental checkup with Dr. Jim Erpenbach. If you would like to schedule an appointment with our37919 dentist office, you can call 865-584-8630. We welcome patients from Knoxville and the greater metropolitan area.
