Content provided by our partner Dr. Wes Blakeslee DMD, PA ~
Did you know that approximately 50,000 people are diagnosed with oral cancer every year? It causes nearly 10,000 deaths annually, and only about 50 percent of people who are diagnosed with oral cancer live more than 5 years.
With those figures in mind, it is obviously important to take all measures available to prevent oral cancer. This starts with making regular dental visits and having your dentist examine you for potential signs of oral cancer. If you aren’t making a trip to your dentist’s office once every six months at the moment, you should make it a priority to change that as soon as possible. Let’s take a closer look at some of the symptoms of oral cancer and examine how regular dental visits can prevent oral cancer.
What Is Oral Cancer?
Cancer is often defined as cells in your body that grow uncontrollably and cause damage to the tissue that surrounds them. You can develop cancer in various parts of your body.
Oral cancer typically presents itself in the form of a sore located inside of your mouth that doesn’t go away on its own. You can prevent oral cancer from becoming problematic by detecting it as early as possible during routine visits to your dentist.
What Are the Signs of Oral Cancer?
There are several obvious signs of oral cancer. Typically, oral cancer can be identified by the presence of:
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Red or white patches located inside of the mouth
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Sores located inside of the mouth that either bleed very easily or do not exhibit any signs of healing
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Thick spots or hard lumps located inside of the mouth
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Rough or crusty areas located inside of the mouth
While the warning signs listed above are the most common indications of oral cancer, you may experience other symptoms if you have it.
For example, numbness of the mouth is another sign of oral cancer. Pain or tender feelings in your mouth might be another. In some cases, a dentist can even tell that you are dealing with oral cancer simply by looking at the way your teeth come together when you bite down on them. If you have any trouble chewing, moving your tongue, or even speaking, you could also be at risk for oral cancer. These symptoms can also be signs of other health issues, though, which is why it’s important to visit a dentist regularly to prevent oral cancer.
How Does My Dentist Check for Oral Cancer?
Every time you visit your dentist, he or she will provide you with a full dental checkup. As part of this checkup, your dentist will try to prevent oral cancer by examining you for the signs of it.
Make an Appointment With a Dentist Today!
Do you have reason to believe you might be dealing with oral cancer? Or do you simply want to make sure you’re able to prevent oral cancer at all costs by having regular checkups done?
Our experienced dental team is well equipped to take care of all your oral health needs. Contact us if you have any questions or would like to schedule a consultation!
Advanced Dentistry of Wall – Wesley Blakeslee, DMD, PA
2517 Hwy 35 Suite P102
Wall Township, NJ 08736
Phone: 732-223-4466
http://www.advanceddentistryofwall.com/
