Why is Oral Cancer Screening Important for Your Oral Health?
The abnormal growth of cells in and around the oral cavity can be due to oral cancer. Oral cancer includes cancer of the tongue, lips, cheeks, the palate, sinuses, the floor of the mouth, or the pharynx. If not diagnosed early, oral cancer can be life-threatening.
Oral cancer screenings is an effective way to detect early signs of oral cancer. Oral cancer can be grouped in the broad category of head and neck cancers. The symptoms can be non-healing of minor cuts in the oral cavity, loose teeth, pain in the teeth or gums, ear pain, difficulties in swallowing, or gradual loss of taste. Oral cancer treatment is possible if diagnosed early.
Oral Cancer: Prevention, Early Detection, and Treatment
Oral cancer is ranked as the eleventh most common form of cancer globally and is prevalent among all gender and age groups. The oral cavity cells are more delicate than most of the body parts. The DNA of the cells contains instructions that are followed by the cells. When the cells divide due to mutations, the abnormal growth leads to cancerous tumors.
Risk Factors
Certain habits or factors can increase the risk of oral cancer. Some of the risk factors are:
- Smoking or chewing of tobacco.
- Consumption of alcohol.
- Prolonged exposure of the lips to direct sunlight.
- Weak immunity system.
- Sexually transmitted virus human papillomavirus (HPV).
- Family history of cancer.
- Age- People above 55 years are more prone to cancer.
- Gender- Men are twice more likely to get oral cancer than women.
Prevention
Modern medicine does not provide a proven method to prevent oral cancer, but following certain practices can reduce the risk of oral cancer. Avoiding smoking, chewing beetle leaves, or tobacco reduces the chances of oral cancer manifolds. Smoking tobacco chewing exposes the delicate cells of the oral cavity, and the risk of cancer increases.
Excessive alcohol consumption can irritate the cells of your mouth, thus making them vulnerable to cancer. Drinking at moderate levels is acceptable, but chronic drinking can lead to oral cancer.
The lips may be protected from being exposed to direct sunlight. Wearing a broad-brim hat can shade the entire face and the lips. Applying sunscreen lip balm can also protect the lips.
Early Detection
Visiting the dentist at least twice a year can help detect oral cancer. Oral cancer screening is an integral part of your oral health. The dentist in Brampton, ON performs a comprehensive examination of the oral cavity and can detect signs of oral cancer or precancerous changes.
Dentists have an additional advantage in detecting oral cancer. With access to the patient’s medical history, the dentists have ample accessibility in understanding the patient’s medical condition. The patients can also be vigilant in checking for symptoms of oral cancer, but the dentists are in a better position to understand to detect oral cancer.
What to Expect During Oral Cancer Screening?
Evaluation of the oral cavity, the neck, and the throat forms an integral part of oral cancer screening. Before the oral cancer screening, the health hygienist will interact to identify visible signs of discomfort in the oral cavity and any medication you are continuing.
Once the medical history is prepared, the habits like smoking or consumption of alcohol are taken into account. The oral cancer screening involves a thorough checkup of the lips, cheek, tongue, palates, gum tissues, head, and neck.
Generally, the comprehensive oral examination looks at a visible sign of sores, lumps, lesions, discoloration, or irregular changes of the tissues in the oral cavity. The dentist in Brampton, ON might recommend a biopsy to detect cuts that do not heal, the rough patches, or a lesion during oral cancer screening in Brampton, ON.
Velscope Oral Cancer Screening
VELscope oral cancer screening is an advanced mode of oral cancer screening that is effective and quick to detect oral cancer. The VELscope is a handheld wireless device that employs the natural tissues’ fluorescence to improve the ability to detect abnormalities of the oral cavity. The VELscope is convenient to use and is considered the world’s most used adjunctive tool to visualize signs of oral cancer.
You may book an appointment with Bramwest family Dental for a comprehensive oral cancer screening. We also offer general dentistry and emergency dentistry.