Fighting Back Against Oral Cancer

I KNOW, ORAL CANCER IS A SUBJECT we’d all prefer not to have to think about! But it is critical to have a rudimentary understanding of risk factors and symptoms. More than 50,000 people in the U.S. were diagnosed with oral cancer last year alone, and that number is expected to rise. That’s why, in honor of Oral Cancer Awareness Month, we’re dedicating a blog post to the topic, giving our patients the tools they need for early detection.

Oral Cancer Risk Factors

There are several risk factors that increase a person’s chances of developing oral cancer. Some of them are out of our control, such as age and gender. It is far more common in people over 45, and men are twice as likely as women to develop oral cancer. But there are plenty of risk factors that we can control, the biggest of which is tobacco usage. A whopping 85 percent of oral cancer cases are linked to some kind of tobacco use (even e-cigarettes). The next biggest avoidable risk factor is heavy alcohol consumption and frequency of use.

A few of the less-obvious risk factors include getting too much sun (which can cause lip cancer), and HPV. In addition, neglecting your oral hygiene, particularly if you also drink and smoke can increase your risk of oral cancer. You can eliminate this risk factor by brushing twice a day, flossing daily, and scheduling regular dental appointments!

Symptoms To Watch Out For

Unfortunately, even people with none of these risk factors will sometimes develop oral cancer anyway, which is why it’s important to be able to recognize the symptoms, which include:

  • A sore in the mouth or on the lip that doesn’t heal
  • Red or white patches inside the mouth
  • Unusual lump on lip, mouth, neck, or throat, or strange thickness in the cheek
  • Persistent sensation of having something stuck in the throat
  • Numbness of mouth or tongue
  • Difficulty with chewing or swallowing
  • Chronic bad breath that does not go away

If you do have one or more of the risk factors for oral cancer, getting regular general health screenings and physical exams can catch it before you even notice any symptoms. The earlier oral cancer is caught, the easier it is to beat it.

Where Does The Dentist Fit In?

Another way oral cancer is caught early is at regular dental exams! In addition to checking your teeth for cavities and your gums for signs of gum disease, we can spot many of those early symptoms of oral cancer while we’re looking at your mouth, which is just one more reason why it’s so important to keep scheduling your dental appointments! Dr. Steven Davidowitz performs an oral screening at each and every hygiene exam.

Even if you don’t have oral cancer or any of the risk factors, you can still help the people who are fighting this disease. Ask us how you can get involved! Join us in raising awareness! Take a bubble Photo to join our in office #bubblechallenge campaign

We look forward to seeing you soon!