The thought of cancer brings fear to many people around the world no matter their background. Unfortunately, many people fall victim to a tragic form of this illness annually. Because of this, most healthy individuals take caution in their lifestyles and dietary choices to prevent cancer from developing. Even so, one kind of cancer is often difficult to avoid once diagnosed – oral cancer. Symptoms of oral cancer can be illusive, therefore regular checkups with your dentist frequently are highly recommended for detecting oral cancer early. With proper preventative measures like general oral hygiene and bi-yearly dental visits, oral cancer can be avoided. Even if this cancer could not have been stopped, early treatment is possible before the disease is able to spread or worsen in any way.
Causes of Oral Cancer
Cancer is a medical phenomenon caused by the abnormal and uncontrollable cell division in a particular part of the body. Oral cancer is a form of cancer that occurs in the lining in the throat, lips and mouth. Last year, out of 355,000 cases observed, 177,000 met their demise at the hands of a preventable illness.
Tobacco and Alcohol use increase the chances of oral cancer by up to 15 times in humans. Tobacco alone is responsible for 40% of all oral cancer cases.
Radiation can also lead to the formation of cancer in the mouth, as can HPV infections.
The consumption of carcinogens found in foods has been linked to oral cancer, too.
As with all cancers, the sooner found and treated the better. Since oral cancer can make it difficult to swallow and cause pain when eating, so detecting oral cancer early and an early treatment is essential, to your overall daily comfort levels.
Symptoms of Oral Cancer
While they are easily ignored, oral cancer has many detectable signs that can alert you of its development, ultimately allowing you to get help as soon as possible. Oral cancer typically begins as a relatively painless white patch located either on your tongue or the lining of your mouth. This first sign can tell you that something is wrong and that it should not be ignored.
Soon after, the white patch may begin to turn red and multiply to form ulcers. Other symptoms include general pain while swallowing, abnormal lumps in the neck, and numbness of the mouth. Of course, the most concrete way to diagnose oral cancer is by having an oral cancer screening with your local dentist. No matter how much you try to treat these symptoms yourself, they will surely get worse without proper help from your dentist.
Oral Cancer Screenings will help in Detecting Oral Cancer Early
Getting an oral cancer screening is the only way to fully determine if you suffer from this deadly form of cancer. Each time you visit the dentist, which should be every six months, your dentist will be able to track any abnormal changes in the condition of your mouth. If they suspect you may be developing oral cancer, they will likely perform an oral cancer screening.
This is done by looking at certain places in the mouth that most commonly harbor the cancer. For example, the upper and lower gum line, the sides of the tongue, and your hard palate will be closely examined. Even if there are no immediate signs of oral cancer, requesting an oral cancer screening from your dentist can prevent the unimaginable. Get an oral cancer screening for peace of mind every time you visit your dentist.
Get an Oral Cancer Screening
If you believe you may suffer from oral cancer or are nervous you could develop it, visit us at Teach Dental Group. Our highly trained staff will examine your oral cavity and determine if there are any early signs of oral cancer.
Detecting oral cancer sooner rather than later is always better, so be sure to schedule an appointment with us, to ensure you’re in good standing. Don’t let oral cancer sneak up on you – address it today!
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Family and preventive dentistry professionals use non-invasive oral screening methods. These tests use staining techniques that allow the dentist to isolate tissues and affected areas. When abnormalities are detected.