With the arrival of April, spring is truly in the air. Temperatures are warming up, flowers are blooming, and the world seems light and airy. However, this month has more to it than just a change of season. The truth is that April is also Oral Cancer Awareness Month! As such, it’s an occasion to remember the severity of mouth cancers and how best to prevent them. Luckily, your Painesville dentist is here to help with that task. To that end, here’s a summary of oral cancer and why dental care is crucial to fighting it.
What is Oral Cancer?
Per its name, oral cancer is the broad term for cancer affecting the inside of your mouth. The condition is hazardous, being able to spread to other areas if left untreated. Should that happen, a patient’s oral cancer will likely become life-threatening.
Signs and symptoms of this cancer tend to include:
- An unhealing lip or mouth sore
- White or reddish patches on your mouth’s interior
- Loose teeth
- Difficult or painful swallowing
- A growth or lump inside your mouth
- Mouth pain
What are Oral Cancer’s Risk Factors?
Instead of occurring randomly, oral cancer has risk factors that increase your odds of getting it. The most common of these are:
- Tobacco & Alcohol Use – The carcinogens in tobacco cause various cancers. Meanwhile, the body digests alcohol into acetaldehyde – another carcinogen contributing to the disease.
- HPV – The Human papillomavirus (HPV) has been linked with throat cancers that form at the back of the mouth.
- Genetics – Older people more often contract oral cancer than younger folks. Similarly, men are twice as likely to get it than women. Those with a family history of this cancer are also at higher risk.
How a Dental Checkup Can Help
If you don’t already know, dentists can screen you for oral cancer. It’s thus a good idea to attend a checkup, especially if you’ve had relevant symptoms for more than two weeks.
A qualified dentist will assess you for this cancer at any given oral exam. They’ll start by asking about changes in your medical history, whether you’ve noticed unusual symptoms, etc. Next, the dentist will examine your lips, cheek lining, gums, tongue, and other mouth tissues. If they see anything odd, they can refer you to a specialist who’ll perform a biopsy.
This April, you should try to practice oral cancer awareness. Therefore, make you attend regular dental visits so your mouth stays safe!
About the Practice
The Painesville Dental Group is based in Painesville, OH. Led by a top-notch team of dentists, our practice offers comprehensive dentistry for all ages – kids and adults alike. We thus perform high-quality preventive, cosmetic, and restorative treatments, as well as emergency dental procedures. Naturally, then, you can count on us for effective oral cancer screenings, too! For more information or to book a visit, you can reach us on our website or call us at (440)-576-7040.