At the office of Morgan Nordstrom, DDS, and Emily Thai, DMD, we emphasize prevention and early detection of all oral health issues, including oral cancer. For the latter, we provide oral cancer screenings in Vallejo, CA, as part of your regular preventive dentistry checkup.
More than 50,000 adults in the United States are diagnosed with oral cancer each year. In the case of oral cancer, early detection typically means a better outcome.
Oral Cancer Statistics
According to the American Cancer Society, the lifetime risk for developing oral cancer is about 1 in 60 for men and 1 in 140 for women—meaning men are more than twice as likely to develop oral cancer compared to women. However, certain factors, including lifestyle choices and genetic syndromes, can increase oral cancer risks across both demographics—mouth, throat, and oropharyngeal cancers.
Outside of an increased risk for men, here are other factors that make oral cancer more likely, including:
- Tobacco use in all forms, including vaping and chewing
- High alcohol consumption — Heavy drinkers are at an increased risk.
- Ongoing exposure to UV light — This includes working outdoors.
- Poor nutrition — This includes diets low in fruit and vegetables.
- Certain syndromes, including Fanconi anemia
- HPV (Human Papillomavirus), also linked to other types of cancer
Possible risk factors may also include:
- Overuse of mouthwash
- Ill-fitting dentures
- Poor oral health
Oral Cancer Symptoms
Oral cancer can occur anywhere in or around the oral cavity, including:
- Lips
- Gums
- Inner cheeks
- Tongue
- Mouth floor
- Mouth roof
- Behind teeth
And symptoms may include:
- A sore in any of these locations that bleeds easily or does not heal
- Bad breath that recurs despite your best efforts
- Difficulty speaking, chewing, or swallowing
- Pain or numbness in the head, neck, face, or ear area
- Crusty, thickened, or rough patches
- Weight loss without trying
You do not have to have all these symptoms to be diagnosed with oral cancer. Likewise, these symptoms do not mean you have oral cancer. In medicine, many issues mimic one another, which is why it's important to stay on top of your oral and physical health with your dentist and physician.
Regular Oral Cancer Screenings with Your Vallejo Dentist
The American Dental Association recommends two dental checkups and teeth cleanings each year. This schedule significantly lowers your risks for preventable conditions like cavities and gum disease. During your exam at our office, we also provide an oral cancer screening. This means you're checked for oral cancer twice yearly, which supports early detection.
In our dental office, we compare past x-rays to recent films and review changes in your oral health since your last visit. Your dentist is trained to recognize the early signs of oral cancer and can order a biopsy if suspicious lesions or tissues are found during your exam. If further evaluation is needed, your dentist will refer you to the right specialist for treatment.
Your dentist always discusses findings with you.
Other Preventive Measures for a Healthy Life
Your mouth is the gateway to your body, so checkups and teeth cleanings are essential to your entire well-being.
By visiting the dentist every six months, we can catch emerging issues before they put you at serious risk, including oral cancer, tooth decay, and gum disease.
Gum disease starts as a reversible condition called gingivitis. At this stage, your dentist can eradicate the problem and prevent you from ever developing gum disease. Gum disease is merely treatable, but without treatment, you risk heart complications and other potential issues, including but not limited to certain types of dementia and low birth weight in babies.
Your teeth cleaning rids your mouth of harmful bacteria, tartar, and plaque—tenacious sediment that your toothbrush and dental floss can't entirely remove. This gives you a fresh start every six months.
For your part in prevention, be sure to brush and floss after every meal or at least twice every day. Other healthy choices include:
- Eating a balanced diet with fruits and vegetables
- Avoiding or lowering alcohol consumption
- Quitting tobacco in all forms
- Getting the HPV vaccines (patients 45 and under)
- Reporting oral changes to your dentist
If you notice changes in your oral health between dental visits—a sore that won't heal, unusual patches, or persistent pain—contact our office rather than waiting for your next scheduled appointment.
Contact Your Vallejo, CA, Dentist for More on Prevention
Oral cancer screenings are painless, and early detection is always the best course. If you have signs of oral cancer or if it's been a while since you've seen the dentist, we invite you to reestablish care with Dr. Nordstrom and Dr. Thai.
Give us a call today to get started.