According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, around 54,000 Americans will be diagnosed with oral cancer this year and over 9,750 will die from it. Since oral cancer is the sixth most common diagnosed form of cancer in the United States and April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month, we’re shedding light on the subject. Oral cancer risk factors include:
- Tobacco use
- Frequent and/or excessive alcohol consumption
- A compromised immune system
- A history of cancer
- The presence of the HPV virus
Recently, people under the age of 40 with none of the known risk factors have made up 25% of newly diagnosed cases. Unfortunately, oral cancer is one of the few cancers that has an unimproved survival rate over time, but it is more treatable the earlier it’s detected.
Oral cancer signs and symptoms include:
- A lip or mouth sore that doesn’t heal
- A white or reddish patch on the inside of the mouth
- Loose teeth
- A growth or lump inside the mouth or neck
- Ear pain
- Difficult or painful swallowing
The most important step in reducing the death rate from oral cancer is early discovery. If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s time to schedule a visit to Julie L. Stante, DDS, Cosmetic & Family Dentistry.
Even if you don’t have any of the above symptoms, proactively scheduling routine dental care visits will help decrease the likelihood of developing non-treatable forms of oral cancer. Dr. Stante is proud to provide simple, non-invasive exams during every routine cleaning visit to ensure your mouth is healthy and cancer-free.
For more information or to schedule your early detection screening, contact us today.