Unfortunately, oral cancer continues to become a growing problem in the US. Over the past 16 years, cases have increased year after year, making oral cancer screenings more important than ever. While there are risk factors that increase your chances of oral cancer, it can affect anyone at any age. During Oral Cancer Awareness Month, your dentist wants you to know why it’s important to receive an oral cancer screening in Hiram at least once a year.
The Importance of Oral Cancer Screenings
While oral cancer can be devastating, it has a high recovery rate if it’s caught early on. Dentists alone catch around 84% of oral cancers before they become life-threatening, making a quick and easy screening well worth it. Symptoms of oral cancer are often hard to detect on your own, which is why oral cancer screenings have been incorporated into your routine checkup.
What are the Symptoms of Oral Cancer?
Even though signs of oral cancer can be hard to see, you should still be on the look out for any changes in your oral health like:
- Sores in or around your mouth that don’t heal
- White or red patches in your mouth
- Lumps or bumps in your mouth
- Pain when swallowing
- Change in color of your oral tissue
- Ear pain
- Numb spots in your mouth
- Mouth pain
- Loose teeth
What Can I Expect During My Screening?
You may have even had an oral cancer screening before without realizing it! Your dentist in Hiram can perform an in-depth screening in a matter of minutes to ensure that you’re cancer-free. This screening will consist of a visual and physical exam. Your dentist will carefully look at your head, neck, nose, mouth, throat, lips, gums, cheeks, tongue, and tonsils to check for any irregularities that could tip off cancer. If they see any potential signs, they may order a biopsy for further investigation.
During the next part of your exam, your dentist will feel around your jaw and lymph nodes for any lumps or bumps that could be symptoms. They never want to find cancer, but if they do detect cancerous tissue, they’re giving you your best chance at a full recovery.
When is the last time that you received an oral cancer screening? Contact your dentist to ensure your oral and overall health in a matter of minutes!
About the Practice
At Distinctive Dentistry, we have a team of 3 dentists who are experienced in detecting oral cancer through routine screenings. They believe in patient education, which is why they want you to know the importance of these screenings for Oral Cancer Awareness Month. For any questions, they can be contacted through their website or by phone at (770) 445-6606.
