What Is Oral Cancer?
It’s November, which means that Mouth Cancer Action Month is in full swing. As a part of this incredibly important awareness month, our office wants to help educate you on the causes of oral cancer, as well as what you can do to detect, treat, and prevent this potentially fatal disease. Also known as mouth cancer, oral cancer is any type of cancer that forms within a person’s mouth, tongue, gum tissues, or in the back of the throat. It makes up for about 3% of cancers that are diagnosed each year in the United States of America, which is around 53,000 cases annually. People who are over the age of 40 are at a higher risk of oral cancer, however it’s important to understand that it can be diagnosed in someone of any age.
Routinely visiting your dentist in Florida for screenings, checkups and cleanings is one of the best things you can do for your health. Schedule an appointment today!
What Do I Need to Know About the Symptoms of Oral Cancer?
When you know the signs of oral cancer, you are more likely to catch it when it is in an earlier stage. Early detection makes it easier to treat the cancer. Staying “mouth aware” allows you to notice when something is wrong so that you can get in touch with your dentist at the first sign of something being amiss. If you experience any of the below problems for longer than three weeks, you need to make an appointment with your dentist.
- An ulcer or sore that does not heal
- An irritation or thick lump or patch in your mouth, lip, or throat
- White or red patches in your mouth
- A sore throat or the feeling that something is caught in your throat
- Difficulty chewing, swallowing or speaking
- Difficulty moving your jaw or tongue
- Swelling of your jaw
- Numbness in your tongue or other areas of your mouth
What You Should Know About the Causes of Oral Cancer
Did you know that nearly 90% of oral cancer cases can be directly linked to risk factors that are within a person’s control? For instance, two thirds of oral cancer cases diagnosed every year are directly connected to smoking. People who smoke are 10 times more likely to be diagnosed with oral cancer than people who don’t. Heavy alcohol use is another activity that makes it more likely that you will get mouth cancer. People who smoke and drink heavily are put at an even greater risk. Utilizing chewing tobacco or smokeless tobacco also greatly increases a person’s risk. The toxic ingredients contained in these products are known to cause cancer.
Consuming an unhealthy diet lacking in the proper vitamins and minerals also contributes to your risk of developing mouth cancer, as does excessive sun exposure and your age.
How Does a Dentist Diagnose Oral Cancer?
Oral cancer is difficult to detect in its early stages. It’s also a fast-moving disease and can rapidly move into other areas of your body when it is undetected. This means it’s important that you see your dentist on a regular basis so that he or she can find any abnormalities and treat them early on. Most oral cancer screenings are done as a part of your routine checkup. During the screening, your dentist will look for lumps or other signs of cancer in the face, lips, cheeks, tongue, neck, jawline, and other parts of the mouth.
Types of Oral Cancer Treatment
Treating oral cancer typically consists of a team of specialists who work together to provide the proper treatment. This team usually includes your general dentist, an oral surgeon and an oncologist who is a medical doctor specially trained in treating cancer. Common types of treatment methods are surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy.
The way you will be treated will depend on a variety of things. The factors that are taken into account when developing a treatment plan include how healthy you are, where the cancer is located, the size and type of any tumors you have, and whether or not the cancer has moved to other areas of your body. Most oral cancers are treated via oral surgery. During this surgery, an oral surgeon will take out the cancer and any surrounding tissues. For some people, this is all the type of treatment that is necessary. More advanced types of cancer may require surgery, radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy. Another type of treatment is known as targeted therapy. This uses special medication that directly targets cancer cells in the body and kill them.
Routinely visiting your dentist in Florida for screenings, checkups and cleanings is one of the best things you can do for your health. Schedule an appointment today!
How Can Oral Cancer Be Prevented?
Since oral cancer is typically linked to lifestyle choices, it is an easy type of cancer to prevent. The best thing you can do is to make healthy lifestyle choices. This includes avoiding the use of tobacco in any form and heavy alcohol use. Since oral cancer can happen to anyone, it’s also important that you visit your dentist regularly for cleanings, checkups, and oral cancer screenings so that he or she can detect any signs early on. Regular visits to your dentist not only help prevent oral cancer, but they also keep your mouth happy and healthy. In between visits, you should keep an eye out for any abnormal developments so that you can contact your dentist at the first sign that something is going on.
Being mouth aware allows oral cancer to be detected in its earliest stages when it is considered to be very treatable. Be sure that you eat a healthy diet and avoid any activities that increase your risk of developing oral cancer.
Routinely visiting your dentist in Florida for screenings, checkups and cleanings is one of the best things you can do for your health. Schedule an appointment today!
