Oral Cancer

Early Detection is Your Best Protection

Oral cancer claims 8,000 American lives annually. The painless, sneaky disease often goes undetected until it spreads to the neck and lymph nodes, at which time treatment becomes less effective. Our office routinely screens patients for oral cancer during checkups.

We check for tell-tale white patches, persistent mouth sores, tissue color changes, spots of pain, tenderness, numbness, or any changes in your bite over time. We’ll also ask about lifestyle habits, difficulty chewing, swallowing, speaking, or moving your tongue. If we find an area of concern, we can order an inexpensive and painless biopsy. Regular dental visits can help us detect, and thus treat, oral cancer in the early stages. However, knowing and avoiding risk factors will greatly improve your chance of avoiding this life-threatening disease.

Risk Factors of Oral Cancer
The five most common risk factors for oral cancer are tobacco use, frequent high quantity alcohol consumption, sunlight overexposure, habitual cheek or lip biting, and poorly fitting dentures. In fact, 80 to 90 percent of oral cancers are found in people who use tobacco, drink excessively, or both.

When to See Your Doctor
Anything that causes constant irritation to mouth and lip tissues may eventually result in excessive cell growth that can lead to cancer. Mouth sores, such as white or red patches, bumps, or ulcers that do not dissipate in two weeks should be inspected by your dentist or physician. A mass in the neck or mouth, oral or facial numbness, pain when chewing or swallowing, lasting hoarseness, or wart-like areas are indicators that you need to see your dentist or doctor for an oral cancer screening.

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