Oral cancer screenings are a routine part of regular dental check- up visit. Oral cancer is the largest group of those cancers which fall into the head and neck cancer category. Common names for it include such things as mouth cancer, tongue cancer, tonsil cancer, and throat cancer. Approximately 42,000 people in the US will be newly diagnosed with oral cancer in 2013.
While some think this is a rare cancer, mouth cancer will be newly diagnosed in about 100 new individuals each day in the US alone, and a person dies from oral cancer every hour of every day.
You are the most important factor in an early diagnosis. You should always contact your doctor or dentist immediately if you notice the following symptoms in yourself or a loved one:
- A sore or lesion in the mouth that does not heal within two weeks.
- A lump or thickening in the cheek.
- A white or red patch on the gums, tongue, tonsil, or lining of the mouth.
- A sore throat or a feeling that something is caught in the throat.
- Difficulty chewing or swallowing.
- Difficulty moving the jaw or tongue.
- Numbness of the tongue or other area of the mouth.
- Swelling of the jaw that causes dentures to fit poorly or become uncomfortable.
- Chronic hoarseness.
As always make sure to tell your dentist about any problems you have when chewing, swallowing, speaking or moving your tongue or jaw.
All of us here at Kids Smiles would like for you to be aware of this serious illness and know what to look out for, keep your mouth and teeth healthy by visiting Dr.Shah and Dr.O’Riordan twice a year for healthy teeth check-ups.
Click on the link below for more information from the ADA.
http://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/o/oral-cancer.aspx
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