Oral cancer tends to be one that we don’t often hear about, however did you know that it affects roughly 50,000 Americans each year and is responsible for one death every hour? This is a disease you shouldn’t ignore! April is oral cancer awareness month, and Dr. Yarnell, your dentist in Jonesboro wants to talk about prevention with you.
Oral Cancer Facts
Oral cancers signify cancer found in the head and neck areas, not including the brain, which has a cancer category to itself. The death rate for this particular type of cancer is unfortunately very high, and has not improved very much over years. The reason is that oral cancer is somewhat difficult to diagnose early on as there aren’t very many symptoms or pain associated with it.
In many cases, it’s not discovered until it has moved into other areas of the body such as the lymph nodes, making your prognosis much worse. There is also a high rate of reoccurrence with oral cancer, which means you’re more likely to develop it again after your first encounter.
Prevention is the Key
Your best line of defense against oral cancer is consistent preventive appointment with your dentist. Dr. Yarnell screens you for oral cancer at every routine visit with a thorough examination of your gums, soft tissues, and tongue for any suspicious looking sores or lesions. Believe it or not, she can often detect these concerns earlier than you can, and early detection is the key to successfully treating oral cancer. This is only one reason why your six-month cleaning and checkup appointments are so critical for your oral health.
What Can You Do at Home?
Monitoring your own oral health is important, and you should contact Dr. Yarnell right away if you notice any changes such as:
- Sores or lesions that don’t heal within 14 days
- Changes to your soft tissues such as discoloration or white patches
- Lumps inside your neck or mouth
- Pain when swallowing, speaking, or chewing
- Numbness in your mouth or face
Being proactive about having significant changes evaluated right away will give you the best opportunity to treat any concerns as soon as possible, and peace of mind that you’ve had it checked.
Making certain lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking or the use of tobacco products can reduce your risk of developing oral cancer. Heavy use of alcohol can also increase your risk for oral cancer. Did you know that people who both smoke and drink have a 15% higher risk of developing oral cancer than those who don’t?
Contact Woodsprings Family Dentistry
Have you scheduled your next preventive appointment? If it’s time, please give our office a call today to schedule. Your health is too important to risk!