(SAVANNAH, GA) Dr. Angela Canfield of Sandfly Family Dental in Savannah, GA announces the second talk in the 2015 Inspiring Smiles Series will be held Tuesday, April 14, from noon to 1 p.m. The discussion is titled “Oral DNA and Periodontal Testing.”

Periodontal diseases, such as gingivitis, are caused from bacteria that inflames the gums. Symptoms include bad breath, red or swollen gums, and receding gums. Dr. Canfield will explain the benefits of early detection and the process to determine patients’ risks of these diseases.

According Dentistry Today, every sixty minutes, a person dies from oral cancer. The disease is typically associated with long-term tobacco use, but it is becoming more frequent in young adults who have never smoked. Besides tobacco use, the risk factors that could lead to oral cancer include DNA abnormalities or family history. But the main cause, especially in young adults who don’t smoke, is the human papillomavirus (HPV), which may be spread by sexually active people through intimate contact.

“HPV is the leading cause of cervical cancer, which was once the leading cause of cancer deaths for women in the United States,” said Dr. Canfield, “Now that women routinely get PAP tests, which provide early detection of conditions that could lead to cervical cancer, those cancer rates are on the decline. In fact, these days, a person is three times more likely to die from oral cancer than cervical cancer.”

The Inspiring Smiles Series will take place at Dr. Canfield’s office located at 7360 Skidaway Rd., Suite H2. It is free to attend. To RSVP, call Dr. Canfield at 912-349-0472. Dr. Canfield will also be giving away free oral cancer screenings during the month of April.