Oral cancer encompasses cancers of the lips, mouth, tongue, cheeks, throat, sinuses, and hard palate. While it is one of the more treatable cancers when detected early, most cases are not identified until they have advanced, making treatment more challenging. Like all cancers, oral cancer can be life-threatening. Therefore, we are committed to providing regular oral cancer screenings to detect any signs of the disease early and ensure you receive the necessary treatment to protect your overall health. These screenings typically occur during your routine dental checkups with our dentist and team.
The following are common symptoms of oral cancer. If you experience any of these symptoms, we urge you to contact our dentist and team for an appointment as soon as possible:
- A persistent sore throat or the sensation of something caught in the back of your throat
- Unexplained bleeding in the mouth
- A sore on the face, neck, or mouth that does not heal within two weeks
- Unexplained pain or numbness in the face, neck, or mouth
- Ear pain
- Lumps, bumps, rough or tender spots on the lips, gums, or other areas of the mouth
- Red, white, or spotted patches in or on the mouth
- Difficulty chewing, swallowing, or speaking
- Changes in the way your teeth or dentures fit together
Our dentist and team will look for these symptoms during each screening to help ensure your health and well-being. If you have any questions about oral cancer, please contact us today.