Oral cancer screenings play an essential role in protecting patients against a deadly disease. Without getting oral cancer screening in Roblin, oral cancer may go undetected, allowing it to spread and significantly lowering the possibility of treatment and survival.
Oral cancer is the mutation of cells in your mouth. These mutations can grow and form a tumor that can spread from the mouth to the neck, head, and chest.
How Do Oral Cancer Screenings Work?
Dentists most frequently diagnose oral cancer, and at Roblin Dental Centre, getting oral cancer screening near you is a standard part of routine dental cleanings and checkups.
With oral cancer screening, our dentist can find signs of the deadly disease before any obvious symptoms arise. Early detection and diagnoses enable our dentist in Roblin to provide you with prompt treatment and increase your chances of a successful outcome. During an oral cancer screening, our dentist near you will examine your entire mouth for any signs of precancerous or cancerous conditions, including:
- Patches of white on the gums or tongue
- An abnormal bite
- Inflamed or blocked salivary glands
- Unexplained bleeding
- Ulcers or sores that won’t heal
If our dentist finds any suspicious areas of tissue, they will remove a sample of it and send it to a lab to be biopsied.
Symptoms and Signs That Indicate Oral Cancer
Most of the time, oral cancer starts in the cells that line the inside of the mouth and lips. It can also start in the tongue, gums, or roof of the mouth. Some symptoms of oral cancer include;
- Pain when swallowing
- Sore throat
- Pain in the jaw, throat, ears, or tongue
- Bleeding in the mouth
- Facial numbness
- Loose teeth
- Difficulty eating
- A sore or ulcer that doesn’t heal
It is important to note that the above symptoms do not always indicate cancer, and our dentist will investigate other common causes of these issues, such as infection.
Who is at Risk for Oral Cancer?
The people who are most at risk for oral cancer are men over the age of forty. The risk increases as you get older, and many people are diagnosed when they are in their sixties.
Research has also shown that you may have a slight increase in the risk of developing oral cancer if you have a close relative who has had the disease. If you have previously had oral cancer, you are also at greater risk of developing cancer again. Other potential risks include:
- Heavy drinking
- Weak immune system
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease
- Tobacco use
- A diet rich in red meat and fried food
- Excessive exposure of your lips to the sun
- Contact with chemicals such as formaldehyde or sulfuric acid
- Human papillomavirus
If you fall into any of these risk categories, it is a good idea to ensure that your dentist performs oral cancer screening each time you visit them for a professional cleaning and checkup.
Protecting Yourself Against Oral Cancer
Our dentist acts as your first line of defense against oral cancer. The most common symptoms of oral cancer are continuous pain in the mouth and ulcers that do not heal. You may also have challenges eating or swallowing or notice lumps or lesions in your mouth. If you notice any of these symptoms, tell our dentist at Roblin Dental Centre immediately. When diagnosed early, the five-year survival rate for oral cancer is higher than 80 percent, and many people go on to live a full life.