Approximately 48,000 new cases of oral cancer will be diagnosed this year in the United States. According to the American Cancer Society, around 25 percent of those people will die of the disease. Most lay people still associate smoking and alcohol use with oral cancer, but doctors have discovered that many cases of oral cancer diagnosed today can be attributed to HPV, the human papilloma virus, a virus that is spread through oral sexual contact.

Many types of abnormal cells can develop in the oral cavity, often in the form of red or white spots. Some are harmless and benign, some are cancerous, and others are pre-cancerous, meaning they can develop into cancer if not detected early and removed. Most oral cancers arise on the lips, tongue or on the floor of the mouth. They also may occur inside your cheeks, on your gums, or on the roof of your mouth. Oral cancer typically begins as a painless lesion. Left untreated it may or may not become painful. Often patients never know there is a lesion.

It is imperative to receive regular examinations of the oral and facial tissues. These examinations are typically done by a dentist as part of a regular dental visit. When your dentist performs an oral cancer exam, he or she will inspect your face, neck, lips, and mouth as well as feel and look at the insides of your lips and cheeks. The dentist will pull your tongue to one side and then the other and also check underneath. He or she will look in the roof and floor of your mouth as well as back of your throat. There are also new devices that have been developed in the past few years to aid dentists in early detection of oral cancers. These devices use a special light to observe the fluorescence of the tissue to detect abnormalities that may not yet be visible to the naked eye.

Be sure to visit your dentist every six months and ask to be sure you are receiving an oral cancer exam each time. And certainly, if you notice a sore or nodule in your mouth that doesn’t seem to be healing, notify your dentist immediately.

Article written by Dr. Cristi Cheek. Dr. Cristi Cheek is the owner of Cheek Dental here in East Cobb. You may contact her at 770-993-3775 or visit www.facebook.com/cheekdental.

Reprinted from EAST COBBER’s May 2016 issue

 

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