April is ORAL CANCER Awareness Month

Statistics shows that roughly one person will die every hour in America because of oral cancer.

April is oral cancer awareness month. 

            What are the Signs and Symptoms of oral cancer?

• A soreness on the lip or in the mouth that doesn't heal within 14 days
• A lump or thickening in the lips, mouth, cheek, neck or back of throat.
• A white or red patch on the gums, tongue, tonsil, or lining of the mouth
• A sore throat or a feeling that something is caught in your throat that doesn’t go away
• Trouble in chewing or swallowing or moving tongue or jaw
• Numbness of the tongue, lip, or other area of the mouth
• Swelling or pain in the jaw, ear or in the mouth that doesn't go away
• Dentures that start to fit poorly or become uncomfortable
• Loosening of the teeth or pain around the teeth
• Changes in voice, unintended weight loss.       

  What are the risk factors for oral cancer?

   Tobacco use like pipes, cigars, smokeless or chewing tobacco

  Cigarette smoking

  Excessive use of alcohol

  Sun exposure

  HPV infection

  Age over 50 years

  Gender : Male to female ratio is 2 to 1

  Race : Black to White ratio is 2 to 1

  How can you prevent oral cancer?

  • Avoid staying in direct sunlight.
  • Avoid smoking, alcohol and tobacco products.
  • Have a balanced diet and eat well.
  • Visit your dentist every three to six months.
  • Self examnation of oral cavity at least once a month.

    How Is Oral Cancer Treated?

    Oral cancer is treated with surgery to remove the cancerous growth, followed by radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy to destroy any remaining cancer cells.

               

Author

Nikhil Patel, DMD