Oral cancer is a real problem that affects hundreds of thousands of people in the US alone. Because of this, having regular oral cancer screenings can help to detect anything that seems abnormal before it can get worse or progress beyond treatment methods.
What is an Oral Cancer Screening?
An oral cancer screening can be done right in the office and takes just a few seconds. The dentist looks for signs of oral cancer that may include one or more of the following:
- White plague-like substance on the insides of the mouth
- Inflammation and redness
- Foul breath
- Lesions and lumps
Who Needs to Have it Done?
It is advised to have an oral cancer screening done regularly at your preventative care appointments regardless of age and lifestyle. However, the patients most at risk for developing oral cancer are those who smoke and chew dip. Oral cancer can be treated and if it is detected early enough, it can even be eradicated with aggressive treatment.
Why It’s Important to Be Screened
If you forgo routine cancer screenings, you’re risking these problems going undetected and getting worse. Cancer does not go away on its own and needs aggressive treatment in order to eradicate. If you begin to notice a change in the way your mouth looks or feels, be sure to have a cancer screening done as soon as possible. If it is found that you have oral cancer, we will be able to advise you on what to do and what to expect.
If you need to have an oral cancer screening, contact us today.