Oral Cancer
That sore inside your mouth that bleeds easily or refuses to heal may be more than a
canker sore.
The most deadly disease of the mouth is oral cancer. Oral cancer is not just a single disease, but is any cancerous tissue located in the mouth. It may start as a lesion on the lips, gums or tongue, or may come from some other location in the body.
One of the reasons oral cancer is so deadly, proving to be fatal in 50% of the cases, is because two-thirds of the time it isn’t found until its later stages of development. If found in it’s earliest stage by our dentist the survival rate is as high as 90%.
What are the risk factors of oral cancer?
By far the
greatest risk factor of oral cancer is tobacco use, whether
cigarette, cigar, pipe or smokeless tobacco. Tobacco use is associated with about
75% of all oral cancer cases.
Alcohol use is another high-risk factor with oral cancer. When a person is both a heavy smoker and a drinker the risk increases dramatically. Additionally, men are twice as likely to be affected by oral cancer as women.
What are the signs of oral cancer?
Early detection of the symptoms of oral
cancer greatly improves the success of its treatment. When brushing, pay attention
to the following: If any of these symptoms persist,
call our office
for a careful examination. There are three things you can do to
minimize the risk for oral cancer:
First, pay attention to the health of your mouth and teeth. Use proper home
dental health habits, including
brushing twice a day
using a fluoride
toothpaste and
flossing daily.
Also periodically check your mouth for any of the above symptoms.
Second, if you use those products that have proven to increase the risk of
oral cancer – specifically tobacco and alcohol –
stop! If you need help in quitting smoking we may be able to help. Ask about
our smoking cessation program.
Third, make sure you come in for your six-month
cleaning and oral
exam. Dr. Fife and our hygienists are trained to look for the signs of
oral cancer and we
include it as part of our comprehensive exam. This year oral cancer will strike about 31,000
people in the United States. But you don’t have to be one of them. If you
have questions or concerns about any oral symptoms you or a loved one may have, or if you have
questions about our smoking cessation program, please call Lindy, our scheduling coordinator,
now at 342-3695. Oral cancer doesn’t have to be part of
your life. Let us help you unlock “The Power of Your Smile”.
How can I minimize my risk for oral cancer?