This year in the United States, around 54,000 people will be diagnosed with oral cancer. Since April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month, take a few moments to learn some ways you can help yourself in the fight against this disease.
Know the Symptoms
Early detection can make a big difference in treating oral cancer. Reach out to your family doctor if you experience one or more of these symptoms:
- Pain when eating, swallowing, or speaking
- Feeling like you have something stuck in your throat
- Lumps or rough spots on the soft tissues of your mouth
- Sores that haven’t healed after a couple of weeks
- Changes in the way your bite fits together
- Patches of red, white, or speckled soft tissue in your mouth
Keep Your Regular Dental Checkups
We conduct oral cancer screenings when patients visit us for dental cleanings and exams. We can’t diagnose this condition, but we can advise you to contact your doctor if we see something suspicious.
Skip the Tobacco
Multiple factors can contribute to oral cancer, but the leading cause remains tobacco use. If you are a tobacco user, quitting can reduce your risk of oral cancer down the line. If you don’t use tobacco, it’s in your best interest to keep it that way.
Contact us online or call 770-766-8995 to make an appointment at Blankenship Family Dentistry in Stone Mountain, GA.