The month of April has been designated National Oral Cancer Awareness Month by the Oral Cancer Foundation in order to raise awareness of oral and oropharyngeal (back of the mouth and base of the tongue) cancers. In the U.S. the American Cancer Society estimates that about 12,000 people will die of oral cancers this year and about 58,000 new cases will be diagnosed.1
Oral cancer rates have risen slightly every year since the mid-2000s, as cancers linked to human papillomavirus (HPV) infection have also increased. This type of cancer is more prevalent in men than women and in White people with the overall lifetime risk of developing oral cancer at 1 in 59 for men and 1 in 139 for women.2
Oral cancer screening is an integral part of a dental check-up. Dentists, hygienists and periodontists are training in recognizing the signs of oral cancer and that is why it is important to visit your dentist for regular check-ups. Some of the early warning signs of oral cancers include the following:
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- Mouth sores that don’t heal
- Swelling or thickening of mouth tissue
- Loose teeth
- Pain in the jaw, tongue, neck or ear
- Sore throat or pain when swallowing
- A feeling of something stuck in the throat.3
As with most types of cancer prevention and early detection are crucial. Tobacco and alcohol use and the HPV virus are the major risk factors for oral cancer, accounting for about 90 percent of oral cancer cases.4 The good news is that when it is found early on, oral cancers currently have a 80-90 percent survival rate.5 The American Institute for Cancer Research has “found strong evidence that drinking alcohol and having excess body fat increase risk” of cancers of the mouth, pharynx and larynx.6 The Institute recommends an overall health diet including plenty of vegetables to decrease the risk of cancer.
Being young doesn’t necessarily protect a person from getting oral cancer. While the average age of diagnosis is 64, one out of every five cases of oral cancer occur in people 55 and younger.7
As with other types of cancers, awareness and bringing the facts to the public are crucial in assisting people to take actions to prevent cancer and/or detect cancer at an earlier stage when the survival rate is more favorable. If you have concerns, talk to your dental professional and be sure they perform oral cancer screening during your regular check-ups.
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Call to schedule a Free Consultation with Dr Hechtman at our Walled Lake Dental Office. As a Patient’s Choice Winner and more than 40 years of experience you will receive unmatched dental care in all areas dental health. Whether you are seeking cosmetic dentistry to create a beautiful smile, dental treatments to restore your smile or need your teeth cleaned, our dental office in Walled Lake is the perfect choice for all these and more!
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1, 2, 7 Key Statistics for Oral Cavity and Oropharyngeal Cancers
Link: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/oral-cavity-and-oropharyngeal-cancer/about/key-statistics.html
3, 4, 5 National Oral Cancer Awareness Month: A Great Time to Schedule a Dental Checkup, 4/4/2019
Link: https://dentalhealthsociety.com/oral-health/national-oral-cancer-awareness-month-a-great-time-to-schedule-a-dental-checkup/
6 Oral Cancer Awareness Month by Angela Hummel, 4/4/2019
Link: https://www.aicr.org/resources/blog/oral-cancer-awareness-month/