Oral Cancer Screening
Dentists say that one of the biggest problems regarding oral cancer diagnosis and treatment lies in a too-common tendency to ignore or delay reacting to, changes people notice in their mouths while brushing their teeth. And an equally common habit of avoiding regular dental check-ups lowers the chances of achieving a positive outcome when dealing with this potentially fatal disease.
On the other hand, early diagnosis and treatment of oral cancer can reduce the chances of someone becoming one of the two out of every 150 men (or one in every 150 women) who fall victim to this disease at some stage during their lives. And instead, provide the chance to be the only one who statistics suggest survives out of every six people diagnosed with this cancer, which targets the lips, mouth, tongue, salivary glands, tonsils, throat area and/or esophagus.
Causes of Oral Cancer
As with most cancers, the onset of oral cancer is more likely as we age, but it can become active at any time of our lives. There are recognized links to poor oral hygiene, an unhealthy diet and sedentary lifestyle, and to habits like regular alcohol consumption and using tobacco of any kind, whether it’s in the form of chewing tobacco, snuff, cigarettes, pipes or cigars. Other factors include a history of frequent sun exposure and a family history of oral cancer.
When To Request A Screening?
During a regular six-monthly dental check-up, the Mississauga dentist may well pick up any signs of dental illnesses like gum disease and oral cancer, but awareness at home also plays a vital role in making sure any problems aren’t left untreated for too long. It’s worth doing your own home-checks while brushing every day so you can become aware of any signs of changes that take place in your mouth, and keep track of how long they last.
Bumps, lumps, and sores on or under the tongue or inside may or may not be alarm signals sounding the onset of disease, but if they do not go away within a week or so it is worth setting up a dental visit and asking for an oral cancer screening.
What Does Oral Screening Involve?
If you have regular dental check-ups, it’s highly likely you will have had a basic oral screening, even you didn’t know that’s what was happening at the time. It’s a regular step in the biannual check-up process. However, should the dentist find any sign visually of something out of the ordinary, like white patches or sores in your mouth, he or she will carry the process further than just the routine look into the mouth.
Other processes may include x-rays, coloured lighting or a blue stain to check for abnormal cells which show up differently under certain lighting, or become clearly visible when a stain is used. The dentist may also remove a few cells for testing, or refer you to a doctor for a biopsy.
While not all spots or lumps will turn out to be cancerous, it’s not worth literally betting your life on it that they aren’t. Instead, let your dentist check on any changes in your mouth and catch any signs of trouble early on and start taking the necessary steps to treat it. And even if everything looks fine to you, make a habit of keeping regular appointments with your dentist so he can watch for signs of a problem you may have missed.
