Did you know that in America, someone dies from oral cancer every single hour? Often called a "silent killer," oral cancer is difficult to detect on your own, making routine screenings at your six-month dental visits essential to your health. In honor of Oral Cancer Awareness Month, we're sharing some facts that might surprise you and could save your life. Here's what you need to know.
Things to Know about Oral Cancer
Oral cancer falls into the head and neck category of cancers; however, it is its own category since it includes only the cancer that occurs in the mouth itself, making it different from head or brain cancers. The two most common ways that patients get oral cancer are through tobacco and alcohol use and the human papillomavirus version 16 (HP-16), which was identified as a contributor in 1999.
When we diagnose oral cancer in its earliest stages, there is an 80-90 percent survival rate; however, unfortunately, oral cancer is often not found until it's in its later stages, which has resulted in a death rate of around 30 percent that has not really improved much over the years. Early detection is the key to successful treatment of oral cancer.
Oral Cancer Screenings in St. Paul, MN
At Highgrove Dental Care, our dentists screen you for oral cancer during every routine preventive checkup, which typically occur every six months. This gives us a baseline on your oral health that we can monitor, so we can make you aware of any significant changes.
Because oral cancer often looks similar to a harmless canker sore or other oral lesion, it may be hard to detect on your own. A good rule of thumb is to visit your dentist for an exam if you have a sore or lesion in your mouth that doesn't go away after 14 days.
Talk with our team at (651) 300-7394 if it's time to schedule your preventive dentistry in St. Paul, MN.