Every hour of every day someone in America dies of Oral Cancer.
In honor of Mouth Cancer Awareness Month, we thought it would be a great time to shed some light on the subject. Let’s start with some key facts:
- Tobacco use is the number one cause of mouth cancer. In fact, up to half of current smokers will die of a tobacco-related illness – including mouth cancer.
- Drinking to excess can increase the risk of mouth cancer by four times.
- Mouth cancer is twice as common in men than in women, though an increasing number of women are being diagnosed with the disease.
- Age is another factor, with people over the age of 40 more likely to be diagnosed, though more young people are now being affected than previously.
- Cancers can occur in any part of the mouth, as well as areas like the throat, salivary glands, pharynx, larynx, and sinuses.
Mouth cancer causes more deaths per number of cases than breast cancer, cervical cancer or melanomas, however, the earlier it is caught the more treatable it is. Start by keeping your eye’s peeled for these signs and symptoms:
- A lip or mouth sore that doesn’t heal
- A white or reddish patch on the inside of your mouth
- Loose teeth
- A growth or lump inside your mouth or neck
- Ear pain
- Difficult or painful swallowing
If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s time for a visit to Julie L. Stante, DDS, Cosmetic & Family Dentistry for a radiograph. Even if you have not noticed any of the above symptoms, you can still be proactive by making a trip in every 6 months. Oral lesions treated at their earliest stages have a 5 year survival rate!
For more information or to schedule your Early Detection Screening, please contact our office.