April Is Oral Cancer Awareness Month
You may not realize it, but dentists are your allies in preventing and detecting harmful oral cancer. Oral cancer does not get the publicity other types of cancers do, but it is no less insidious, as it affects the lives of thousands of people in the US every year. Your dentist is specially trained to look for signs of oral cancer and can be essential in detecting it early, while it is most treatable.
What is Oral Cancer?
Any type of cancer of the lips, gums, tongue, throat, inner lining of the cheeks, or the roof or floor of the mouth is classified as oral cancer. It often starts as a sore that doesn’t heal, but there are several indicators to look out for, such as:
- White or reddish patches inside your mouth
- A growth or lump inside your mouth
- Difficult or painful swallowing
- Mouth pain
- Loose teeth
- Ear pain
If you notice any of these symptoms, contact your dentist or GP immediately.
Prevention & Screenings
According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, 132 people in the US are newly diagnosed with oral cancer every day. The best thing you can do to prevent oral cancer is to refrain from engaging in risky behaviors, like smoking, chewing tobacco, drinking alcohol to excess, and prolonged sun exposure or tanning bed use. However, not all oral cancer is linked to these lifestyle choices. In fact, there is a growing incidence of oral cancer in healthy adult non-tobacco users due to exposure to human papillomavirus (HPV). That is why we recommend that everyone get regular oral cancer screenings, regardless if they believe they are at risk or not.
OralID Oral Cancer Screenings
When it comes to oral cancer, early detection is key. Most types of oral cancer are highly treatable in the early stages. We offer oral cancer screenings as part of a patient’s semiannual examination and cleaning.
One tool we rely on is the OralID scanner. This tiny device shines a special blue light inside the oral cavity to reveal areas that may be cancerous or precancerous. The entire screening process takes only seconds and is completely painless — well worth it for the peace of mind it provides.
Please help us spread the word about the importance of oral cancer screenings during Oral Cancer Awareness Month. If you have not been in to see us recently, we urge you to call and schedule an appointment at our office located in Denton, MD. We will be happy to professionally clean and examine your teeth and perform an oral cancer screening as well.
