Our Dentist Can Help to Diagnose Oral Cancer

Early detection is key and our dentist office will look for signs of oral cancer during teeth cleanings and examinations. According to the American Cancer Society there are around 35,000 adults in the U.S. that are diagnosed with oral cancer on an annual basis. Men are at a greater risk than women and men over the age of fifty are at the greatest risk. It is difficult to see inside of your mouth so regular trips to our office will help with identifying any potential signs of cancer. There are specific triggers that increase a persons’ risk of coming down with oral cancer. The challenge is that this disease isn’t discussed very often so people are unaware of these risks or how to identify cancerous symptoms. Here is what you need to know. Things that increase the risk of oral cancer. People that use smokeless tobacco products are at the greatest risk of getting oral cancer. This includes chewing tobacco, snuff, and dip. Many people will use these products instead of smoking cigarettes because they think they are being healthier. While these products aren’t as bad for your lungs they bring a sixty times greater risk for developing oral cancer. People that switch from cigarettes to chewing tobacco are basically trading one cancer risk for another. Smoking is still bad for your mouth and increases the risk of oral cancer by six times. As a local dentist we recommend that our patients quit smoking or using tobacco products for the health of their body and their mouth. Alcohol also increase the risk of someone coming down with oral cancer. Studies have linked excessive drinking to a six times increase in oral cancer, the same as people that smoke cigarettes. The term excessive is loosely defined but many health professionals say that anything over two drinks a day is excessive along with binge drinking at any time. Extreme sun exposure increases a persons’ risk of oral cancer. This is especially true when people are overexposed as a child. Avoid spending too much time in the sun by taking breaks in the shade or wearing a sun hat when out walking or playing. Signs of oral cancer There are specific signs of cancer that you can watch for at home, and that our dentist will look for during an examination. This includes: Teeth or dentures not fitting together like they used to. Once you have all of your teeth they should not move unless something happens to make them move. If there is no logical reason, you may have a growth that is pushing your teeth around. Lumps, bumps, and patches. Run your tongue along your cheeks and gums to see if there are any rough patches, bumps, or lumps. These can all be signs of oral cancer and are easy to detect at home. Red or white bumps. If a bump is velvety in texture and red, white, or red and white in color, it could be a sign of cancer. If you notice anything unusual in your mouth, call our dentist office to schedule an examination. We will give you an inspection and look for any signs of cancer. If we see anything to be concerned about we will make recommendations as to the steps for testing the area and getting the treatment that you need.