Could Tea Give You Cancer?

Tea, in many of its forms, is largely regarded as a health food. Fans of these valuable beverages drink them for their antioxidants and other valuable nutrients. It can therefore come as a surprise that your tea-drinking habit may be linked to a greater risk of throat cancer.

This is according to research conducted on a selection of patients suffering from esophageal cancer. Studies revealed that it was those who regularly drank more than a litre of hot black tea that were most likely to develop malignant growths in the throat. Fortunately, you don’t need to give up tea in order to save your throat. It would seem that the problematic factor at play is the high temperature of the beverage, which can be damaging to your fragile tissues. Tea of above sixty-five degrees seems to entail greater risk, while tea of over seventy degrees is substantially worse.

With this in mind, try allowing your tea to sit for at least four minutes after it is done boiling. It is after this point that you can expect it to fall below the sixty degree mark. Meanwhile, you can stay on the lookout for cancerous developments in the throat and mouth with regular visits to our Bellevue dentist.

Biting Your Cheeks: Is Something Wrong with Your Teeth?

We all bite down on our cheeks every once in a while. It’s never a pleasant experience, and it can take a while for these delicate tissues to repair themselves. Some people find that they bite down on their cheeks more often than they think they should, which makes them wonder whether or not the problem may be in their teeth.

The good news is that biting your cheeks is one of those things that is just going to happen to all of us periodically. Even if your teeth are perfectly straight and healthy, you will occasionally make a mistake.

If you are biting yourself multiple times in the same place, it is probably because the injured tissues of your cheek have become swollen and therefore easier to bite a second time, further aggravating your injury. You therefore will want to take particular care of your cheek when you chew, avoiding any further bites and allowing the tissues to recover. If the problem is particularly bad, you can consult your dentist about orthodontic wax or a similar protective product. Talk to our Bellevue dentist to learn more.

Sugar-Less Soda? Just as Bad

It’s old news that sugary soda is bad for your teeth. Obviously, all the sugar in soda is a big contributor to tooth decay and gum disease. Armed with this knowledge, some people think that they can avoid this problem by drinking only sugar-free soda. Unfortunately, this is not the fix that they think it is. Our Bellevue dentistry cautions you to take as much care with sugar-free sodas as you would with sugary beverages.

The truth is that it is not only the sugar content of soda that is detrimental to your teeth. The carbonation is also doing your mouth no favors. Carbonated beverages like soda are highly acidic, and this acid has a high potential to break down your tooth enamel. In many drinks, this acid is doing more damage than the sugar itself. You can minimize this damage by chasing an acidic beverage with a calcium-rich drink, like milk, and stick to drinking water between meals as much as you can manage.

The Dental Ramifications of Acid Reflux

Acid reflux can be difficult to live with. People suffering from this condition have trouble with their stomach acid escaping up their esophagus, which can burn the throat and cause a lot of pain. Some of this acid can also reach your mouth, which can take its toll on your teeth. Our Bellevue dentistry advises that you take measures to manage your acid reflux for the sake of your oral health.

You can reduce your acid reflux symptoms by carefully planning your diet. There are many foods that aggravate acid reflux, among these being alcohol, chocolate, garlic, onions, dairy, citrus, tomatoes, mint, spicy food, fatty food, coffee, tea, and other caffeinated beverages. Avoid these substances late in the day, and try propping up the front legs of your bed a few inches so that your throat is an uphill climb from your stomach. This will go a long way towards saving your tooth enamel from the ravages of your stomach acid.

Your Cold Sores

The mouth can be the site of many bothersome lesions, bumps, and sores, and the cold sore is one of the more irritating. Should you or a member of your household become afflicted with such a sore, our Bellevue dentistry advises that you observe the following precautions in order to hasten recovery, minimize pain, and prevent the virus from spreading:

  • There are drugs you can buy over the counter that can be effective in mitigating the pain, reducing cracking, and speeding up the healing process.
  • Cold sores can become infected, so keep the area clean. You should wash a sore gently with ordinary antibacterial soap and water as needed.
  • Use a sunscreen on your face and lips if you are to be out in the sun for an extended period of time.
  • Don’t let the virus spread! Wash your hands after touching a sore, and don’t share utensils, drinks, or anything else that touches your mouth.
  • You can also spread the virus to other parts of your own body if you are not careful.
  • Vulnerable areas include your eyes and mouth. Wash your hands before touching other parts of your body.
  • Replace your toothbrush, and don’t let your infected brush touch the brushes of others.

Remember that your sores will be contagious until they completely crust over. Cold sores will generally heal by themselves within seven or ten days.