We have talked a lot about things like gum disease and tooth decay, but there is something we haven’t put enough emphasis on yet, and that is cancer. Cancer in all it’s forms is a potentially fatal and devastating disease that kills an estimated 500,000 Americans a year. Those that do survive being diagnosed with cancer only walk away from it after a long and difficult battle with it. What does this have to do with dental health and care? More than you might suspect.
There is a type of cancer that is labeled “Oral Cancer”. Oral cancer is cancer that can form in any part of the mouth, including the tongue, lips, floor of the mouth, cheeks, palate, sinuses, and the throat. Some of the main causes of oral cancer are many of the same things that can damage teeth. These including smoking, smokeless tobacco, and heavy alcohol consumption. While brushing your teeth can help reduce the risk of developing oral cancer, the best …show more content…
Things to mainly keep an eye out for are spots of red, white, or speckles of both, numbness or pain, sores in or around your mouth that last longer than two weeks, difficulty doing normal things such as chewing, swallowing, or speaking, and the feeling of having something stuck in the back of your throat. These are all possible symptoms of developing oral cancer.
Contact Drs. Costello and Drake at ###-###-#### to schedule your next appointment. The best way to stop oral cancer is to be proactive about it. The steps to help prevent it are also key parts of keeping your smile healthy and bright. The recommendation for dental check-ups is once every 6 months. This will give your dentist enough time to catch any signs of cancer early on, while giving suggestions on how to best care for your dental health. If you have concerns before seeing the dentist that you might have developing oral cancer, inform your dentist when you see
There is a type of cancer that is labeled “Oral Cancer”. Oral cancer is cancer that can form in any part of the mouth, including the tongue, lips, floor of the mouth, cheeks, palate, sinuses, and the throat. Some of the main causes of oral cancer are many of the same things that can damage teeth. These including smoking, smokeless tobacco, and heavy alcohol consumption. While brushing your teeth can help reduce the risk of developing oral cancer, the best …show more content…
Things to mainly keep an eye out for are spots of red, white, or speckles of both, numbness or pain, sores in or around your mouth that last longer than two weeks, difficulty doing normal things such as chewing, swallowing, or speaking, and the feeling of having something stuck in the back of your throat. These are all possible symptoms of developing oral cancer.
Contact Drs. Costello and Drake at ###-###-#### to schedule your next appointment. The best way to stop oral cancer is to be proactive about it. The steps to help prevent it are also key parts of keeping your smile healthy and bright. The recommendation for dental check-ups is once every 6 months. This will give your dentist enough time to catch any signs of cancer early on, while giving suggestions on how to best care for your dental health. If you have concerns before seeing the dentist that you might have developing oral cancer, inform your dentist when you see