April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month, the perfect time to see our Dentist for your Spring Cleaning. Not many are aware of this rare disease and in this year alone about 54,000 people will be diagnosed with Oral Cancer in the U.S. It kills one person every hour of every day and approximately 145 new people will be diagnosed by the end of today. The best news of all is that it can often be detected early through a simple, painless screening.
Every time you come see our hygienist for your cleaning you receive an oral cancer screening. Every adult needs to be screened. With early detection, the survival rates are high and the treatment’s side effects are low. Making your dental appointments a high priority also helps to keep your overall health a priority as well.
There have been two manners in which people come to develop oral cancer. One is through the use of tobacco and alcohol which historically has been a long term cause. The other known way is through exposure to HPV16 virus (human papillomavirus version 16), which is also responsible for the majority of cervical cancers found in women. Now, the quickest growing population to have oral cancer are the young, healthy, non-smokers due to the connection with this virus.
What you may see in your mouth:
• Red, white and/or black discolorations of the soft tissues of the mouth.
• A sore which does not heal within 14 days.
• A sore under a denture, which even after an adjustment of the denture, still does not heal.
• A lump or thickening which develops in the mouth or on the neck.
Symptoms you may experience:
• Hoarseness that lasts for prolonged period of time.
• A sensation that something is stuck in your throat.
• Numbness in the oral region.
• Difficulty in moving the jaw or tongue.
• Difficulty in swallowing.
• Ear pain which occurs on one side only.
You should receive an oral cancer screening at least once a year. Coming to our office every 6 months will provide you with at least two screenings per year. Call us today to schedule your Free Oral Cancer Screening. For more information about oral cancer, please visit the Oral Cancer Foundation’s.
West Cobb Dentistry
Phone number: (770) 794-3332
Address: 5255 Stilesboro Rd NW #150, Kennesaw, GA 30152
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