Every hour, oral cancer kills one person in the United States. This is a tragedy because 80% of cases are cured when detected and treated early.
The mortality rates are high because diagnoses come too late. Very few patients are properly screened by their dentists. At our practice, we perform an oral cancer screening with every exam. We utilize advanced cancer screening technology so that we can detect problems early on.
Oral Cancer Symptoms
Oral cancer comes with the following symptoms:
- Unexplained bleeding
- Numbness, loss of feeling, or pain in sections of the mouth
- Difficulty chewing or swallowing
- Ear pain
- Persistent sore throat
- Development of white, red, or speckled patches in the mouth
- Swelling, thickening, lumps, bumps, rough patches, and growths
This condition typically affects the:
- Front 2/3 of the tongue
- Lining of the cheeks and lips
- Floor of mouth under the tongue
- Roof of the mouth
- Gums
- Small area behind the wisdom teeth
- Minor salivary glands
Although these areas are visible to the doctor during examinations, we need a more thorough look to be able to detect the beginnings of abnormalities. Oral cancer is typically treated with a combination of surgery and oncology, but each case varies.
Be sure to come in for every six-month checkup for preventive care. Especially in the case of oral cancer, prevention is your best option.
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