Early Detection is Your Best Protection
Cancer is never welcome. Especially not oral cancer, which has a high
mortality rate unless caught in the very early stages. Unfortunately,
it's painless and sneaky, often going undetected until it's advanced far
beyond what's successfully treatable. That's why you should know and conscientiously
avoid the risk factors, and routinely undergo a meticulous professional
screening by your dentist.
Chronic Irritations Create Bad Situations
The five most common risk factors for oral cancer are: tobacco use, frequent
high quantity alcohol consumption, constant sunlight exposure, habitual
cheek or lip biting, or poorly fitting dentures. In fact, 80-90% of oral
cancers are found in people who smoke or chew tobacco, drink excessively,
or do both…doubling that risk. And anything that causes constant
irritation to mouth and lip tissues may eventually result in white patches
of leukoplakia, which may experience excessive cell growth, leading to
cancer. Our part in fighting this disease is our thorough screening process:
we check for those 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 needed, we'll
order a biopsy to eliminate concern. And your part is to simply avoid
the risk factors and be safe, not sorry!
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