Why you need an Oral Cancer Screenings even if you don’t use Tobacco

Louisville, KY

The health risks of using tobacco products — yes, even vaping — have been widely publicized. Oral cancer isn’t as prevalently discussed, but it should not be overlooked. While it’s true that oral cancer is more of a risk to those who use tobacco products, the deadly disease can affect anyone. Because of this, our family dentist in Louisville always stresses the importance of keeping up with your twice-a-year dental checkup appointments.

The ugly truth about oral cancer

Oral cancer is extremely serious and more common than many people may think. More than 51,000 new cases of oral cancer are diagnosed in an average year, and according to the Oral Cancer Foundation, only 57 percent of newly diagnosed patients will survive more than five years. Why such bleak statistics? Usually, oral cancer isn’t discovered until it has metastasized in other parts of the body, most often in the lymph nodes of the neck.

As with most other cancers, early detection is key and provides the best chances of survival or avoiding severe health complications.

What are the symptoms of oral cancer?

Warning signs of oral cancer may not include pain, but they could include issues like mouth ulcers, sores, soft tissue discolorations, bleeding easily in the mouth or as a lump in the mouth and/or neck. Oral cancer can also cause sudden or unexplained weight loss and difficulty moving the tongue, swallowing or chewing.

How can I get screened for oral cancer?

Our family dentist in Jeffersonville screens your mouth for cancer at every regular checkup, which is one reason that visiting the dentist twice a year is so important. Screening for oral cancer is easy and painless — so much so that you may have never noticed that your dentist was monitoring for it during your routine visits.

Doesn’t oral cancer only happen to people who use tobacco?

Tobacco use greatly increases the risks of developing oral cancer, but other factors — such as age and heavy alcohol use — can be factors, too. Men are more likely to have oral cancer than women. Ultraviolet light and excessive sun exposure can cause oral cancer on the lips, and certain genetic conditions and medications — particularly those that involve immunosuppression — can also elevate the risk of oral cancer.

Oral Cancer Prevention in Louisville, Jeffersonville, and Shepherdsville, KY

Screening for oral cancer could not be easier or less invasive. Be sure to keep appointments for routine checkups at our Exceptional Dentistry office. If you haven’t been to the dentist in a while and need to schedule an appointment, please don’t hesitate to contact our office at 888-918-3336, or reach us online to schedule an appointment today.