At Circle Drive Dental in Rochester, we believe the importance of oral cancer screenings can’t be understated. Here we cover the warning signs associated with oral cancer and the benefits to having periodic screenings.

The term “oral cancer” (sometimes called “oral cavity cancer”) refers to any cancer that occurs inside the mouth: inner cheek, tongue, lips, gums, and hard palate (front-top of mouth). Not included are cancers found on the soft palate (back-top of mouth) or in the throat. Oral cancer is found more often in men than women, and it has a strong connection with smoking/chewing tobacco. In fact, studies show that 90 percent of oral cancer patients use tobacco, with the risk increasing relative to the length of usage. Other causes of oral cancer include excessive alcohol consumption, marijuana use, viral infections, poor diet, family history of oral cancer, and overexposure to the sun.

The most common warning signs of oral cancer are chronic pain in the mouth and mouth sources. There are several other warning signs associated with oral cancer, some of which depend on the individual. These signs include:

• Chronic bad breath
  
• Weight loss
  
• Swelling in the neck
  
• Lump(s) in one or both cheeks
  
• A persistent feeling like something is caught in your throat
  
• Trouble chewing/swallowing
  
• Difficulty and/or pain in moving the jaw or tongue
  
• A sore that doesn’t heal and bleeds consistently
  

If any of these symptoms last for more than two weeks, make an emergency appointment with Circle Drive Dental. These symptoms could be the result of a more common oral ailment, i.e. an infection, but we won’t leave anything to chance. If we find that the symptoms are related to oral cancer, we’ll move immediately into a treatment phase.

Receiving regular dental exams from our dentist’s office in Rochester is an important step to the early detection and treatment of oral cancer. Our dentists have the experience to find sores and danger spots too tiny to see in the mirror or impossible to detect without the right instruments. According to the American Cancer Society, adults over age 20 should have an oral cancer screening every three years, while adults 40 and over should receive an annual exam.

Self-screenings are also helpful, and all you need is a bright light and a mirror. First, feel your lips and your gums. Then move on to the roof of your mouth, your inner cheeks, and your back gums. What you’re looking for are discolorations, lumps, anything that seems out of place or causes pain. You should also stick out your tongue and inspect it top and bottom, and then look at the back of your throat. Finally, feel for lumps (often these are the product of enlarged lymph nodes) under your lower jaw and on both sides of your neck. All these tests are part of the oral cancer screening process at Circle Drive Dental, but it’s a great idea to conduct monthly self-exams in between your visits to our Rochester office.

Our talented, highly trained dentists are experts at administering oral cancer screenings, detecting the warning signs, and suggesting a course of treatment. Of course, regular dental visits are invaluable not just for detecting problems, but also ensuring that oral issues never arise. Contact us today for an appointment.