Grow your “Mo” this Movember

Photo: Contributed

You may have noticed men sporting the beginnings of moustaches and beards this November. This is a worldwide phenomenon that has taken off over the years. I did some research and found this facial hair, specifically grown in November, was known as a "mo" short for moustache. They are grown to support Movember, a month dedicated to bringing awareness to men's health, specifically prostate cancer. The Mo Bros are also supported by the women in their lives, the Mo Sistas. The Mo Bros raise funds by seeking out sponsorship for their mo growing efforts.

Facts:

• 1 in 7 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime.
• 1 in 2 men will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime.
• 1 in 3 women will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime.

Prostate cancer is a disease that is 90% curable if caught in time so having these conversations and raising awareness is key.

It is important to have good dental health at all times in your life. If you are a cancer patient you need to be even more diligent as the cancer treatments can affect the teeth and gums, as well as your entire body.

Symptoms of dry mouth, inflammation of the mucous membranes in the mouth (mucositis), taste changes, sores, infections, pain, tooth decay, and gum disease are all possible.

Be sure to keep your dentist current with your cancer treatment, update your medical history to include your diagnosis and treatments, let your oncologist know of any future dental work you may need and provide each other with phone numbers for any consultation or concerns. You need to keep open lines of communication with all your care providers in order to give you the best treatment options possible.

To maintain a healthy smile as a patient living with cancer, you should:

• Schedule a dental exam and cleaning before treatment begins and periodically during the course of your treatment.
• Discuss dental procedures such as teeth extractions, or insertion of dental implants with your oncologist before you start treatment.
• If you have a removable denture, have your dentist check and adjust it.
• Let your doctor know about any pain, bleeding of the gums, dental infection or unusual feeling in your teeth or gums.

If you have cancer, your routine dental hygiene should include:

• Brushing your teeth and tongue after every meal and at bedtime, using a soft toothbrush and gentle stroke.
• Gentle flossing at least once a day to remove plaque (if your gums bleed or hurt, the area that is sore should be avoided)
• Keeping your mouth moist by rinsing often with water as dry mouth can be a side effect to some medications and can lead to dental issues.

So start growing your “mo” and help men’s health and prostate cancer awareness this Movember.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.