Oral Cancer Screening

Myeah ... In spite of being a total hypochondriac on the subject matter, especially since both my parents have had cancer - father shoulder/bone cancer and mother breast cancer, I do not pay too much attention to my pipe intake and often times alcohol. I am an avid beer and wine drinker, while liquor is something I no longer abuse since my college years. I may have 1-2 liters of plum brandy / year, and a few glasses of scotch, rum or cognac. While smoking does increase the risk exposure to cancer, it is not the only contributing factor. I often times wonder how come my grand parents smoked a life time - literally since 14 years of age, and died in their 70s - true from heart disease or some other smoke related complication, but NOT lung cancer. Throughout my parents' treatment, all the doctors' advice and personal research leads to a single conclusion: cancer is the result of a multitude of things that we do in our life. First of all, stress is a major contributor. Second is diet. Specialists agree that sugar intake is a big no no for malignant tumors. Also, processed food and the preservatives they inherently use in these type of products. Alcohol and tobacco undoubtedly represent risk factors for cancer. But then again, so do apples that have been treated with certain pesticides. They say that antioxidants are a must if one would desire shrinking the risk of any type of cancer. Some even suggest that marijuana consumption in the absence of tobacco is something that really combats cancer, but no ... I am not even going to go there. At the end of the day it is all very confusing, which would make one tempted to highly agree with jaygreen55

After all you only live once

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Well put madox07, I have nothing more to add

Its an old argument to be sure, but a cancer screening can't hurt, whether or not you smoke a bowl a week or 10 a day.

Usually I don't consume no beverages while smoking apart from after dinner bowl,then it is to be whether scotch or brandy,then

I can't help wondering how one can go with this drink a lot of water recommendation if he smoking at work or when driving and third I assume those older codgers back in the days had never heard nothing of drink a lot of recommendation, my late daddy died at the age of 72 at lung cancer, as many of his generations, and yes he was a chain smoker ( two pack of unfiltered per day and did like occasional boozing as well, he used to work at merchant navy in the rank of boatswain.

Honestly for me guiness is the only beer that pairs well. The carbonation in beer and smoke combination on my tongue is too much. Whiskey is better but I tend to lean towards water. I will have to check with my dentist about the oral cancer screening...that is a very good idea.

I have not revealed to my dentist that I smoke a pipe. I generally only smoke a handful of times a week. I brush/floss regularly and the hygienist has not seen/nor mentioned any anomalies associated with smoking during my cleanings. I am hesitant to have the term "smoker" associated with my records as do it so infrequently and insurance companies love to deny coverage for such.

My dentist is an avid pipe smoker, I think I'll mention this to him at my next visit.......

Jay, this is an excellent post, thanks for sharing it.
I was a clinical / respiratory support tech doing home patient care for 15 years prior to my present occupation. I visited countless patients with smoking-related illness while training their families on the usage of medical equipment in the home. We can poo-poo the topic with smoking isn't the only contributing factor position...but who here claimed that smoking IS the only factor? Nobody, and it's not. I also visited many with diabetes and other conditions caused by diet, family genes, and other contributing factors...so I agree, smoking is one of many. But cancer and other illnesses are not something you want to struggle with for months or years (like both my parents) before your life ends, if you can catch it and do something about it. I'm not advocating that we lay down our pipes (I've not done so), but it's very worthwhile to do what we can to catch it early, and also to at least be aware of the combinations which can contribute...that's all this is about.

Oral cancer is not a concern of mine, as I am at tops 5 bowls a week. Like Javan, sometimes I take a couple weeks off. I have two teeth at both corners on top that have exposed roots, and a couple iffy ones at the bottom. I drink a lot of water, smoke as cool as possible(mostly long stemmed pipes,)and move the pipe around. If I did as much as I wanted to it would be 5 a day, but I wouldn't feel like it was worth it once the teeth start coming out. I also use a water flosser, and may get an electric tooth brush soon. Oil pulling daily may also help.

Look into the statistics on three pipes a day. Perhaps dentist need to read those studies also. Life is full of choices and risk. Of course smoking a pipe is a risk. Thanks for the tip on the screening, jaygreen.

Are they any good? I hate flossing.

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I hated flossing as well and bought a water pic. They do an awesome job and according to my dentist, are better overall for your teeth and gums than flossing.
Thanks to the OP for his post. I will ask my Dentist about this. I agree, there are numerous factors that likely contribute to someone having cancer. It is rather foolish, IMHO, to think smoking is not possibly a major contributing factor for many. I don't advocate being paranoid but when you can potentially do something that would be relatively cheap, quick and painless to provide early detection when you're potentially at a higher risk, seems like the sensible thing to do.

I love my water flosser Javan. I could tell an improvement in my gums after about 5 days. Floss can be hard on your gums. They also have different settings. Unfortunately, my dog loves it too and I can't use it without him wanting me to squirt him in the mouth. Look up oil pulling. I do it every day. My dentists recommend it.I also hate flossing. Seems laborious.

I think most dentists do a visual inspection, pull the tongue out of the way and look around. It's a recommendation for moderation, and not retrohaling and involving the nasal passages as well. All medical people are under professional obligation to warn us off smoking altogether, no matter what they choose to do themselves. Shane', I don't like flossing, but things can get irritated when I don't. Boring but more comfortable to do it, for me.

Went to my dentist today to have him recheck an area I pointed out to him a month ago that was a bit more rough than smooth like the rest of my mouth, he said it is good. I smoke 10 bowls a day.

Before he started he said you are a pipe smoker right?

He says I am perfect.

Concerned? Go to your dentist.

everything is normal

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Your post should have ended there.

I paid extra for the oral cancer screening once. He did not do a whole lot more than what they normally do. Figured it was a way to just get some extra $$$ out of me. I go twice a year for teeth cleaning and they have plenty of time to see anything odd. Just my 2 cents.....