According to the American Cancer Society, there are nearly 50,000 new cases of mouth, throat and tongue cancer diagnosed each year, and the average age of those diagnosed is 62. Here’s everything you need to know about spotting and preventing oral cancer.
According to the American Cancer Society, there are nearly 50,000 new cases of mouth, throat and tongue cancer diagnosed each year, and the average age of those diagnosed is 62.
The dentists at Gentle Dental Family Care check for signs of oral cancer when you come in for an exam, which is why it’s very important to visit your dentist twice a year. The earlier you catch any signs of oral cancer, the better.
Symptoms of Oral Cancer
Here are some common symptoms of oral cancer that you can look out for on your own:
- Sores, irritation, rough spots, lumps, or red or white patches in the mouth
- Velvety white, red, or speckled (white and red) patches in the mouth
- Unexplained bleeding in the mouth
- Unexplained numbness, loss of feeling, or pain in any area of the face, mouth, or neck
- A soreness or feeling that something is caught in the back of the throat
- Difficulty chewing or swallowing, speaking, or moving the jaw or tongue
- Hoarseness, sore throat or change in voice that does not go back to normal
- Ear pain
- A change in the way your teeth look or dentures fit
- Loose teeth
Major Causes of Oral Cancer
It should come as no surprise that tobacco is one of the main causes of oral cancer. All tobacco products including cigars, cigarettes, vapes, and pipes contain toxins and carcinogens, which are cancer causing substances. The more that a person smokes or chews tobacco, the higher their risk of oral cancer.
Preventing Oral Cancer
Besides brushing, flossing and seeing your Gentle Dental Family Care dentist regularly, quitting smoking and tobacco products, as well as reducing your alcohol consumption, is key to preventing oral cancer. Your Gentle Dental dentist can help offer resources and even suggest medications to help you quit. When you stop using tobacco, you’ll be at less risk for bad breath, gum disease, stained teeth and cancer. Self examinations of the gums, lips and teeth are also encouraged.
Your Dental Health
When it comes to your health, trust in the dentists at Dental Made Easy. Dental Made Easy has the best dental practices in New York City and we are open on Sundays as well as late evenings. All of our dental offices are opened and accepting new patients at this time. We are rated among the top dental practices in New York, NY with numerous 5 star reviews on Google, Yelp and Facebook. For a teeth cleaning or exam, we recommend calling or booking an appointment online with one of our talented dental professionals. All new patients may also take advantage of our $149 Cleaning Special that includes an exam and x-rays or our Free Dental Implant Consultation Special.
To set up your appointment give us a call at (844) 979-EASY (3279). We have offices in Forest Hills, Queens, Little Caribbean, Brooklyn and Garden City, Long Island. Walk-ins welcomed, we take emergencies and we are open on late nights to accommodate patients with a busy schedule. We hope to see you soon!
*The contents of this article were not written by a professional. All information provided has been gathered from other sources and citations can be provided once asked for. Dental Made Easy LLC relinquishes any responsible for any actions taken upon reading this article. The material and information contained on this website are for general information purposes only. You should not rely upon the material on this website as a basis for making any health or business decisions. Dental Made Easy LLC makes no representations or warranties of any kind, expresses or implied about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability, or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the website for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such material is at your own risk.
