When you visit your dentist twice a year, you get more than just a cleaning for smooth, fresh-feeling teeth. This appointment is also an opportunity for your dentist to inspect your mouth for signs of serious oral problems. As one of the issues they look for, oral cancer can have devastating consequences if left undetected. For Oral Cancer Awareness Month this April, take the chance to get a necessary screening to ensure your health now and in the future.
Get the Facts about Oral Cancer
Although oral cancer isn’t as common as breast cancer, it can be just as deadly. In 2019, about 53,000 people are expected to be newly diagnosed with oral cancer, but only about 57 percent of them will likely still be alive five years after diagnosis. On a daily basis, oral cancer claims one life every hour. However, like with many other cancers, early detection plays a key role in increasing the odds of overcoming oral cancer. In fact, those whose oral cancer is found and treated during the early stages of development have a survival rate of 90 percent. That’s why getting oral cancer screenings on a regular basis is so important.
Learn the Symptoms of Oral Cancer
Although some signs of oral cancer are difficult to spot by the untrained eye, especially if you’re trying to examine yourself, your dentist has the training and the perspective to accurately identify oral cancer through the following symptoms:
- Loose teeth.
- Difficulty swallowing or chewing.
- Patches of red, white, or speckled tissue inside the mouth.
- Lumps or bumps in the mouth, jaw, or neck.
- Pain in chewing or swallowing.
- Areas of thickened tissue in your mouth.
- Numbness in the tongue.
If you notice any of these symptoms, contact your dentist or doctor right away for an evaluation and necessary testing.
Have a Regular Oral Cancer Screening
At your routine dental checkup and cleaning appointment, your dentist takes just a few minutes to look for oral cancer. First, they ask you about any unusual symptoms that you’ve been experiencing and any changes to your medical history. Then, they closely inspect your gums, tongue, hard and soft tissues in your mouth, paying particularly attention to the back of the mouth where signs of oral cancer often manifest. Finally, they gently feel around your jaw, under your chin, and on the outsides of your cheeks. If they do find something that could indicate oral cancer, they will refer you to your doctor for additional testing.
In the end, your dentist may never find oral cancer for you, which means that you can feel more at peace about your health. If you do have oral cancer, your dentist can find it quickly, get you the treatment you need, and hopefully enable you to enjoy many more years in a good life. The short time it takes to have oral cancer screenings twice a year is worth any inconvenience. After all, a few minutes could end up saving your life!
About the Practice
At Crovatto & Edwards Family Dentistry, the two dentists have unique, complementary talents and interests within dentistry that allow them to offer truly comprehensive dental services to patients in the Orange Park area. Dr. Steven Crovatto especially enjoys restorative care, dental implants, root canals, and extractions, and Dr. Megan Edwards has a particular affinity for cosmetic dentistry. To make an appointment with them, you can call (904) 272-0800 or click here.