Maintaining good oral hygiene does more than prevent cavities and gum disease. An oral cancer screening Danforth is included with every routine dental exam to help detect early signs of oral cancer before they advance. When found early enough, treatment can be more manageable and more successful. That’s why regular trips to the dentist are so important to maintaining your oral and overall health. If you know you have risk factors for oral cancer or just want to be proactive about your health, booking regular screenings with your Danforth dentist is one of the best steps you can take.
An oral cancer screening is a painless process where your dentist thoroughly examines your lips, tongue, cheeks, gums, palate, floor of the mouth and throat. They’re checking for any abnormal changes or signs of cancer. Your dentist will look for sores that don’t heal, unusual red or white patches, lumps, swelling, and other tissue changes that could be cancerous or precancerous. Oral cancer screenings Danforth shouldn’t take more than a few minutes and are typically performed during your regular checkup. No special preparation is required.
While smokers are more at risk for developing oral cancer, non-smokers can develop it too. Oral cancer can affect anyone, even those who never use tobacco products and rarely, if ever, drink alcohol. Additional risk factors include infection with HPV, long-term sun exposure to the lips, and family history of oral cancer. But since many people who get oral cancer have no known risk factors, it’s still important to have regular oral cancer screening Danforth as an adult. Early detection is possible when you have your mouth examined regularly by a dentist who can notice subtle changes you might miss.
Oral cancer is tricky because it typically doesn’t cause pain or other symptoms during its early stages. You may have a small sore, lump or patch of discolored tissue on the inside of your mouth and not experience any pain or discomfort. During later stages, you may have difficulty swallowing, suffer from ongoing mouth pain, develop hoarseness, experience numbness or feel as though your teeth are loose. Any abnormalities inside of your mouth that don’t resolve within two weeks should always be checked by your dentist.
Early detection plays a key role in the effective treatment of oral cancer. When discovered early, treatment can typically be less invasive and your chances for a positive recovery greatly increase. The longer you wait for symptoms to become severe, the more opportunity the disease has to spread and require aggressive treatment. By visiting your Danforth dentist regularly, you can catch potential problems before they develop into more serious health concerns.
Your dentist will carefully examine your mouth and feel your jaw, neck and surrounding tissue during your appointment. If there are any areas of concern, your dentist may choose to monitor the area, perform diagnostic testing or refer you to a specialist. Many changes to oral tissue are benign, but it’s always best to get them checked right away.
Part of your dentist’s job is to ensure your overall health is on track as well as your dental health. Booking regular oral cancer screening in Danforth gives you peace of mind and allows you to catch problems early on. If you’ve gone more than six months since your last dentist visit, make an appointment with your Danforth dentist today to keep your smile healthy.