Oral cancer — it’s probably not something you think about very often. This disease has been known to kill one adult every hour in the US. Almost 42,000 Americans will be diagnosed with the oral cancer this year alone. To help raise awareness of the condition, April has been designated oral cancer awareness month. Keep reading to learn more about the condition, its causes, and how to get screened from Dr. Adam Cohlmia, your dentist in El Reno.
Risk Factors for Oral Cancer
It’s thought that oral cancer has such a high mortality rate due to a lack of awareness regarding the importance of regular screenings — but we can change that. If you or a loved one have any of these risk factors for oral cancer, you should be aware of the increased need for a regular oral cancer screening.
- Tobacco use of any kind
- Heavy alcohol consumption (especially when combined with tobacco use)
- Frequent, repeated UV light exposure
- Ill-fitting dentures that rub sores in the mouth
- A previous oral cancer diagnosis
An oral cancer screening is a simple, potentially life-saving procedure. If you or someone you love are at an increased risk for developing the disease, make April the month you undergo a screening at El Reno Family Dentistry.
Oral Cancer Screening: What to Expect
Your oral cancer screening requires no advance preparation on your part, and it can be performed alongside your regular checkup and cleaning. Just let us know you’d like to have an oral cancer screening and we’ll take care of the rest.
To perform your annual oral cancer screening, Dr. Cohlmia will first ask you a series of questions to get to know important information about your oral health. These may include whether or not you’ve noticed anything different with your mouth — like a change in your voice, or the discovery of any new lumps. After he has a more thorough understanding of what’s going on with your health, he’ll perform a visual and tactile examination to look out for the oral irregularities that signify cancerous or precancerous conditions.
These include:
- Persistent sores inside the cheeks, lips and mouth
- Red or white spots or rough patches in the mouth
- Swelling
- Changing facial symmetry
- Lumps in the mouth, throat or facial area
Schedule An Oral Cancer Screening Today!
Let’s talk about oral cancer with Dr. Cohlmia this April. Call El Reno Family Dentistry to schedule your appointment for a checkup today!