Campi Dental Blog

Oral cancer is something that is always discussed within the walls of our office. We screen, monitor, and take all preventative measures possible to ensure that our patients stay healthy and don’t become affected by something as serious as oral cancer. Although it’s often a topic of conversation at All in the Family Dental Care, that unfortunately doesn’t mean the rest of the world is aware of the horrible disease. We make sure to send out messages to our patients and encourage sharing that information throughout the month of April, which is Oral Cancer Awareness Month. Most people don’t know the symptoms and many people consider oral cancer to be a rare disease. That isn’t quite the case.

Oral Cancer or Mouth Cancers will be newly diagnosed in about 132 new individuals each day in the US alone, and a person dies from oral cancer every hour of every day. – The Oral Cancer Foundation

Similar to lung cancer, many people think that oral cancer is caused by smoking or other toxic oral habits. Again, that isn’t quite the case. Someone close to our office and family was kind enough to share a few words with our patients and followers about how oral cancer changed her life.

“My mother never smoked a day in her life.

Oral Cancer isn’t only caused by smoking. She was 32 when she was first diagnosed, and after 19 years in remission she had to fight it again. My mother underwent surgery to remove most of her palate, and had multiple reconstructive surgeries to help restore her quality of life. Back then there was little if any treatment for oral cancer, and not much knowledge in prevention.

Now, as a mother of 4, I make sure our Dentist knows our health history. I make a conscious effort to take care of my family’s health through annual screenings. The annual screening is easy, the dentist moves your mouth around and feels around your jaw for any abnormalities. He/she then looks through a special scope that takes about a minute.

Prevention is a state of mind. You have to ask, “How can I help myself and what can I do for my health?” You have to be an advocate for your own health! You can create the healthy life you want through education and choosing healthy lifestyle habits. I did that by becoming a health coach through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. Educating my children about nutrition and prevention is part of our families culture.

I am so grateful that I can lead a healthy lifestyle because of education in prevention, oral screenings and the support of my dentist. It gives me peace of mind!”

– Theresa

Sometimes it takes hearing an emotional/personal story to understand the real impact that diseases can have on a family. Sometimes it takes a blog post like this to inform you of the basic information you need to know in order to protect yourself and the ones you love. We’re going to include below the symptoms and warning signs of oral cancer, cover what typical treatment looks like, and finally, how you can take preventative actions in your life against the disease.

Causes

Mouth cancers form when cells on the lips or in the mouth develop changes (mutations) in their DNA. A cell’s DNA contains the instructions that tell a cell what to do. The mutations changes tell the cells to continue growing and dividing when healthy cells would die. The accumulating abnormal mouth cancer cells can form a tumor. With time they may spread inside the mouth and on to other areas of the head and neck or other parts of the body.

Mouth cancers most commonly begin in the flat, thin cells (squamous cells) that line your lips and the inside of your mouth. Most oral cancers are squamous cell carcinomas.

It’s not clear what causes the mutations in squamous cells that lead to mouth cancer. But doctors have identified factors that may increase the risk of mouth cancer.

Symptoms of Oral Cancer

Currently, the most effective way to control oral cancer is to combine an early diagnosis followed by a timely and appropriate treatment. The vast majority of oral cancers will be diagnosed from identifying lesions or sores within the mouth.

Early Signs

• Persistent red and/or white patch non-healing ulcer
• Progressive swelling or enlargement Unusual surface changes
• Sudden tooth mobility without apparent cause
• Unusual oral bleeding or epistaxis Prolonged hoarseness

Late Signs

• Hard surface areas within the mouth
• Airway obstruction
• Nerve damage that causes tingling or a pricking sensation in the tongue, cheeks or lips
• Chronic earaches
• Lockjaw, or limited range in jaw movement/opening
• Pain and swelling in the lymph nodes
• Altered vision

Potential Treatments

Once a diagnosis has been made and the cancer has been staged, treatment will usually begin very quickly after. Oral cancer treatment can be very complex involving the efforts of surgeons, radiation oncologists, chemotherapy oncologists, dental practitioners, nutritionists, and rehabilitation and restorative specialists. The actual treatment is usually made up of surgery and radiation, with chemotherapy added to decrease the possibility of the cancer spreading to new locations.

Prevention

A very common assumption is that oral and mouth cancers are caused by excessive smoking and drinking. While both of those can be major contributing factors, that isn’t always the case. 1 in 4 cases have no risk factors at all. There are many ways that you can be proactive in avoiding oral cancer. All of them involve taking care of yourself and putting your health first. Examples of ways you can prevent oral cancer are:

• See your dentist at least twice a year for general cleanings as well as oral cancer screenings. The screenings are quick and painless.
• Avoid tobacco use of any kind, including cigarettes, cigars, pipes, chewing tobacco, snuff, and vaping
• Avoid drinking alcohol in excess
• Avoid excess sun exposure to your lips
• Maintain a healthy diet. Eating lots of fruits and vegetables is a major part of staying healthy.
• Keep an active lifestyle

As you all know, 2019 has been a new and exciting year for us at All in the Family Dental Care. We are staying committed to providing first class dental care, while also working to educate our patients and the community on overall health and wellness. We will be continuing to post monthly on ways that you and your family can become healthier and improve your everyday lifestyles.

March is National Nutrition Month and we’re taking this as an opportunity to help our readers set goals, work harder to be healthier, and influence healthy change. As we begin to get a taste of the warm weather to come, it’s the perfect time to get active. You don’t need to be a professional runner to take advantage of exercising outside. Going for a light walk, doing yoga outside, walking on the beach are all great ways to improve your health. Below we’re going to list out several ways to focus on your nutrition and ways to easily make small changes in your life that can cause a big impact.

Choose foods and drinks that are good for your health

The first step to a healthy diet is becoming educated and knowledgeable about how to prepare healthy meals and snacks. The second step is figuring out a solution to incorporate those healthy changes into your diet. You can do that by surrounding yourself with good options. Fill the refrigerator and pantry with healthy snacks and plan meals ahead of time so you can avoid ordering take-out or choosing an unhealthy option. The third step is making the right decisions. This most likely will be the hardest step for many people. Training your brain to WANT the healthier options will take time. Being prepared will make all the difference in setting yourself up for great success. Once you start to incorporate small healthy changes into your diet, you will start to feel better. You’ll have more energy. You will soon be making healthy decisions because you want to, and you know it’s the best decision for your body and your life.

Be mindful of portion sizes. Eat and drink the amount that’s recommended for you.
One of the major issues in America is portion sizes. The servings that we’re used to from restaurants are very often double or triple the recommended amount, which is a direct cause of obesity in our country. Choosemyplate.gov is a great resource that educates us on healthy serving sizes and how to incorporate the right kinds of foods into each meal. Below is a great resource to show us examples of appropriate serving sizes using every objects.

Incorporate healthy foods from all of the food groups on a regular basis.

As we learned above about proper portion sizes, it’s equally important to focus on eating the RIGHT foods. Creating a balanced diet incorporating all food groups is a major part of your nutritional make-up. Here are a few recommendations on how to bring in all of the food groups.

• Make half your plate fruits and vegetables
• Focus on whole fruits
• Vary your veggies
• Make half your grains whole grains
• Move to low-fat or fat-free milk or yogurt
• Vary your protein routine

Some people may have allergies or reasons why they can’t eat certain foods, those people should work directly with a doctor or nutritionist to make sure they are still getting all of the vitamins and nutrients they need from a well balanced diet.

Keep it simple. Eating right doesn’t have to be complicated.

Many people get easily overwhelmed with the idea of eating healthy. Some may think it’s too hard, or too expensive, or too complicated. We want to help you understand that it doesn’t have to be. Eating right can start by making the simplest, smallest changes. Swap out your soda or iced tea with a water – fun fact, water can also be free so you could potentially save money as well. Choose a side of veggies instead of french fries. When food shopping, fill your cart with fresh foods – fruits, vegetables, and meats. Stay away from processed and pre-packaged foods. There are also many blogs and apps that help you monitor coupons and sales at different grocery stores so you can try to save money while eating healthier. Don’t overwhelm yourself, just start by incorporating one healthy change a day, it’s that simple.

Find activities that you enjoy and be physically active most days of the week.

Being active is just as important as eating and maintaining a healthy diet. Many people easily get discouraged or feel that they can’t “work out”. Some may feel self conscious joining a gym or may not be able to afford it. Being active doesn’t need to cost money, and doesn’t need to be an intense, long, session. Something as simple as going for a walk on the beach, or dancing while you clean the house can burn a great amount of calories. Below are a few other ideas on how to be active during a normal day.

• Park farther away from your destination
• Take the stairs instead of the elevator
• Go for a walk on your lunch break
• Do small bursts of activity – a few jumping jacks or run in place for 2 minutes every hour
• Bike ride to a friends house or the store
• Jump rope
• Take your kids or dog for a walk
• Go on a nature hike
• Get an activity buddy – everything is more fun with a friend

Many young parents know the importance of bringing your children in for routine dental cleanings and exams. Although most parents don’t understand the importance of those check-ups and the role they play in their child’s overall health and life. February is Children’s Dental Health Awareness Month, and we’re doing our best to educate our patients and the community on the importance of oral health from a young age. Our doctors have been connecting with kids in the classrooms, in the community, and in the office to help educate and try to make it exciting for kids to brush, floss, and take the best care of their teeth possible. Keep reading below to learn more about children’s dental health and how to help keep your child healthy. As always, call us or schedule an appointment if you would like to discuss any of this information in greater detail, we are here to help and your child’s overall health and wellness is our priority!

Did you know?

• 11% of children under 3 years have experienced dental decay or cavities
• 47% of school entry aged children have tooth decay
• Dental decay or cavities is the third most common reason for preventable hospital admissions in children under 5 years
• 43% of children aged between two and eight years of age brush their teeth less than twice a day
• Children at risk of being overweight can have a higher chance of getting cavities and having decay than their normal weight peers
• 71% of children aged between one and five years have never head a dental visit

Tooth decay is the most common chronic illness in children and can have a profound impact on a child’s health and quality of life. Like other bacterial infections, tooth decay can worsen if left untreated. Children can be affected by having pain and discomfort, difficulty sleeping, difficulties chewing, affecting growth and development, poor self-esteem and social isolation, speech development problems, higher risk of new decay in other baby teeth, and potential damage to developing permanent teeth.

How Can Parents Help?

 

Do a daily check of the gums and teeth

Conduct a ‘lift the lip’ oral check of your child – In a healthy mouth, teeth are not discolored and the gums are pink, indicating a healthy blood supply

 

Identify Signs of Decay

 

Have your children see the dentist for a routine exam every 6 months

 

 

Things to know: through the ages

0 to 12 months

• Do not put a baby to sleep with a bottle – pooling of milk (containing lactose) around the teeth overnight can lead to decay
• Start cleaning teeth as soon as they appear
• Wipe their gums after every feeding
• Use a small soft toothbrush with water or a fluoride free toothpaste (safe for swallowing)
• From 6 months, introduce drinking from a cup

12 to 18 months

• Brush child’s teeth with water twice a day (no toothpaste)
• After 12 months children should be drinking from a cup
• When your child celebrates their 1st birthday, schedule their 1st dentist visit
• Brush for about 2 minutes

18 months to 5 years

• At 18 months start using a pea sized smear of low fluoride toothpaste
• Assist child brush their teeth twice a day until they are eight years old
• Water is the best drink – avoid sugary juices
• By ages 3-4 all baby teeth should have appeared
• Brush for about 2 minutes

For all children

• Fruit juice and fruit drinks are not recommended
• Give fresh fruit instead of fruit juice – chewing stimulates saliva which protects teeth against decay
• Strongly limit sugary drinks including: soft drinks, fruit juice, sports drinks, vitamin waters, fruit drinks and energy drinks
• Limit processed foods and foods high in sugar to reduce the risk of tooth decay and obesity
• Use a song, stopwatch, or app to track time and make it fun
• Wear a mouth guard in sports to protect your teeth

 

Brushing Techniques

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Brush all surfaces of each tooth gently back and forth
• Angle the brush along the gumline
• Use a pea-sized dab of toothpaste
• Use a soft-bristled toothbrush
• It’s always fun to brush the tongue

Improving Your Sleep
People have been sleeping for hundreds of thousands of years. But more recently health experts are increasingly recognizing that sleep supports health in multiple ways, including your weight, blood sugar, immunity, heart health, memory and learning, breast cancer risk, and even lifespan. Both how well you sleep AND how long you sleep are equally important. To maximize the benefit of the time you spend in the sack, be sure to avoid screens and caffeine before bedtime, keep your room dark and at a comfortable temperature (cooler is better), use a source of white noise if you need it, and buy supportive pillows.

 

Plant-Based Diets
Diets come, and diets go. The low-fat craze of the 1990s gave way to low-carb diets in the 2000s. Then came Paleo, followed by the current diet trend, Keto. One piece of nutritional advice that stays pretty constant (no surprise here)  is that fruits and vegetables are good for you. And plant-based diets are becoming increasingly popular, whether that means going vegan (i.e. eating no animal products at all), or just making plant-based foods the centerpiece of your diet.

 

Mushrooms
Mushrooms are more than a tasty addition to a vegetable stir-fry. These fantastic fungi have been shown to boost the immune system, tamp down inflammation, maintain healthy blood sugar, and help the body adapt to stress. Medicinal mushrooms are increasingly used as ingredients in functional foods. But you can also cook with many of them whole. Most grocery stores carry fresh shiitake mushrooms in the produce section, and many stock dried medicinal mushrooms — such as shiitake, cordyceps, maitake and lion’s mane — in the Asian food aisle.

 

Sound Therapy
The old saying that “music hath charms to soothe the savage breast” makes intuitive sense. We all have sounds that relax us, whether it’s birdsong in the morning or water rushing over the stones of a creek. Sound healers claim that when we listen to different frequencies, our brainwaves sync up with them. By changing our brainwaves, they say, we can positively influence our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Tibetan singing bowls, tuning forks, and gongs are becoming popular as ways to tap into the healing nature of sound.

 

Breathing Clean Air
According to the Global Wellness Summit, over 90 percent of the people on Earth breathe polluted air. It may make sense to invest in an air purifier for your home. But it’s not just the outdoor air you need to be concerned about. According to the EPA, indoor air can be two to five times more polluted than outdoor air! Avoiding the use of insecticides (like ant or roach spray) indoors, choosing non-toxic cleaning products, and filling your home with plants (peace lilies and spider plants are two great choices) can help keep your air clean.

 

 

References
https://www.healthista.com/wellness-trends-for-2019/
https://globalwellnessinstitute.org/industry-research/industry-trends/
https://www.neverlikeditanyway.com/fixit/7-health-wellness-trends-will-shape-2019/
https://artofhealthyliving.com/discover-wellness-trends-2019/
https://www.herstylecode.com/health/10-wellness-trends-note/
https://www.epa.gov/report-environment/indoor-air-quality

At All in the Family Dental Care we thrive on helping our local community during the times they need it most. The holidays bring up so many memories and moments that make us feel grateful for all that we have. It’s also a time where we like to give back and make sure that those around us are just as fortunate.

We are happy to be involved with the 2018 Toy Drive, working to make our local kids enjoy this holiday season. Please consider this drive when you’re out running around and take a moment to stop and grab one of the items needed for our local families. 

We will be collecting these donations at our office from now until the 21st of December, so stop by, say hi, and drop off a donation. We appreciate it! 2041 Highway 35 Wall, NJ

 

Thank you everyone for participating in our 9th Annual Candy Buy-Back Program. We are proud to announce that we collected over 650 pounds of candy to send to our troops!

The candy buy-back program is a great way for children to understand the idea of giving back and getting involved in the community, all while keeping out teeth healthy and supporting our troops!

We are proud to support the Brennan Stands Alone Foundation, a local non-profit organization that assists members of the U.S. Military that are injured in the line of duty, and their families. You can learn more about the organization here: https://www.facebook.com/Brennanstandsalone/

 

As a 4 generation dental practice, we are honored to be recognized as a Semi-Finalist in the 26th Annual New Jersey Family Business of the Year Awards. Thank you to the Rothman Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Fairleigh Dickinson University for this recognition.

This year marks the 26th Annual NJ Family Business of the Year Awards. The Rothman Institute has nominated and recognized 1071 companies and honored 442 businesses and this year All in the Family Dental Care was a semifinalist recognizing their 85 year long family practice. When Dr. John G. Campi first opened his practice in Asbury Park in 1933, it was the beginning of what is one of the oldest, continuously family operated dental practices in New Jersey. Dr. John G. Campi III, DMD spoke on the honor, “This award in particular means so much since it recognizes our 4 generational family practice happily serving our community.”

Family businesses continue to dominate our economy and are the single biggest job creators. They account for 50% of the GNP and 35% of the Fortune 500 are family companies. Twelve family-owned businesses from around the state were honored for their dedication to their industry, family values, vision, and contribution to their communities and the New Jersey economy. Governor Murphy’s office proclaimed October 24, 2018 as “Family Business Day”.

Other businesses recognized were: Barth’s Market, Parkway Plastics Inc., Seniors In Place, LLC, Cloverleaf Tavern, Suzi’s Sweet Shoppe, Tingley Rubber Corporation, Alfred Sanzari Enterprise, Unique Photo, My Limo, Parker Interior Plantscapes and Spectra Colors.

All in the Family Dental Care is proud to announce our campaign for collecting backpacks and school supplies for local children in our community that are in need of support in order to achieve academic success.

We will be collecting backpacks, supplies, and gift cards at our office until August 15th – 2041 Highway 35 South Wall, NJ 07719.

 

It is with great honor and pride that we celebrate 85 years of business. Thank you to our patients and the community for the continuous loyalty and support over the last eight and a half decades, you have made all of our success possible. It is our family of patients that keep us going and encourage us to strive every day to provide the highest quality of service and dental care possible. THANK YOU for allowing us to grow as a family owned dental practice, your support has allowed us to stay involved and give back to our local community which we love so much.

A look back at 85 years…

When Dr. John G. Campi first opened his practice in Asbury Park in 1933, it was the beginning of what is one of the oldest, continuously family operated dental practices in New Jersey.

Over eight decades later, Dr. Campi’s great-granddaughter Erin Campi followed her father and grandfather into the practice, now located in Wall Township. Aptly named All in the Family Dental Care, the practice serves all ages with a full range of state of the art treatments and equipment in a relaxed friendly setting.

The late Dr. Campi, a graduate of Georgetown University’s School of Dentistry, practiced state of the art dentistry during his time and demonstrated his deep commitment to the community through years of philanthropic work.  He founded the first dental clinic at Fitkin Memorial Hospital, now Jersey Shore University Medical Center, as well as the Asbury Park Boys Club. He was also very active in state and national dental associations and introduced special equipment to the clinic designed for children with disabilities.  

“My father was always involved in the latest developments in dentistry and set a high standard for customer service,” said  Dr. Thomas Campi, who joined his father in the practice in 1969. “Those values have been hallmarks of our practice through the decades.”  

The practice moved to the Wall Professional Building in Wall, NJ, which the Campi’s built in 1972. All in the Family Dental Care has always been on the technological cutting edge, pioneering the field of dental lasers beginning in 1985. In 1992, John G. Campi III, DMD (Dr. Jack Campi) partnered with his Uncle Thomas, and together they incorporated dental technologies such as Digital Radiographs, Air Abrasion, Plasmas Arc Lights and new Laser Wavelengths. They introduced Dr. Jack’s brother Joseph G. Campi, DMD (Dr. Joe Campi) into the practice in 1998. Erin Campi represents the fourth generation working in the practice.

The family of dentists annually attend continuing education courses to stay at the forefront of their profession and to allow the doctors to offer their patients the finest cosmetic, periodontal, surgical, laser and implant dental care. They regularly attend courses focusing on periodontal surgery, oral surgery and dental implant technology so the most current treatment options are available to their patients.

 

 

April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month and it’s Our Job to Educate our Patients & Followers.

There is no time like the present to be assured that your oral health is in good standing. Oral Cancer is a very real and very scary disease that many people are not always aware of. It’s our job to educate our patients and our followers on the signs, symptoms, and ways to prevent this deadly disease. Make sure to call us today to schedule your quick & pain free oral cancer screening – 732-449-2228.

Close to 49,750 Americans will be diagnosed with oral oropharyngeal cancer this year. It will cause over 9,750 deaths, killing roughly 1 person per hour, 24 hours per day.

One of the scariest parts of this cancer, is that in its early stages, it can go easily unnoticed. It can be painless, and little in the way of physical changes may be obvious. The good news is however, that during your routine dental check up we can, in many cases, see or feel the precursor tissue changes, or the actual cancer while it is still very small, or in its earliest stages.

Early Oral Cancer may appear as a white or red patch of tissue in the mouth, or a small indurated ulcer which looks like a common canker sore. Because there are so many benign tissue changes that occur normally in your mouth, and some things as simple as a bite on the inside of your cheek may mimic the look of a dangerous tissue change, it’s hard to know when to get it checked out. Our rule of thumb is that any sore or discolored area of your mouth that does not heal within 14 days, should be looked at by your dentist.  Other symptoms include; a lump or mass which can be felt inside the mouth or neck, pain or difficulty in swallowing, speaking, or chewing, any wart like masses, hoarseness which lasts for a long time, or any numbness in the oral/facial region. Unilateral persistent ear ache can also be a warning sign.

If you have any of these signs or symptoms please don’t hesitate to call us to make an appointment.

732-449-2228.

 

Source: www.oralcancerfoundation.org