There are many different types of
cancer, and the Canadian Cancer Society reports 29 percent of all Canadian
deaths in 2009 were due to cancer.
At Foothills
Dental Centre, we thoroughly clean your teeth and gums at every
regular appointment and we carefully screen each patient for oral cancer.
According to the Canadian Dental
Association, in 2003 about 3,100 Canadians were diagnosed with oral cancer and
the disease claimed 1,090 Canadian lives. The five-year survival rate for oral
cancer is 63 percent, according to Health Canada. This means that 63 percent of
patients diagnosed with oral cancer are still alive five years after their
diagnosis. We don’t want you to be next. You are an important part of your oral
health, and keeping a close watch over your lips, gums, teeth, cheeks and
tongue may even save your life.
Learn the Most Common Oral Cancer Symptoms
If you know the common symptoms
of oral cancer you can better protect yourself. When you go through your daily
oral hygiene routine, check for the following warning signs: Use your finger to
trace your lips, gums and cheeks to check for any swelled lumps. Sores are
often signs that something is wrong in your mouth, especially those that last
longer than two weeks. Note the color of the sores as well; are they white, red
or a combination of the two colors?
You may also notice ear pain, numbness,
tenderness in your face or mouth, frequent oral bleeding, a prolonged sore
throat, trouble chewing or swallowing food, changes in the way foods taste,
trouble talking or moving your jaw or even extreme weight loss. Has your bite
changed? Do you notice a difference in the way your teeth fit together? All of
these symptoms could be warning signs of oral cancer. Bring any of these
symptoms up to your dentist at your next appointment.
Identify Your Oral Cancer Risk Factors
Tobacco use greatly increases
your risk of developing oral cancer. If you smoke or use smokeless tobacco,
consider how much healthier you’ll be if you quit. Quitting tobacco will
improve your dental health, your skin, your heart health, your lungs and your
circulation. You are also approximately six times more likely to develop oral
cancer if you drink alcohol to excess.
Too much sun can increase your
chances of developing oral cancer. Protect your lips with an SPF fortified lip
balm or by wearing a hat that blocks sunlight from your face. If you’ve had
oral cancer in the past, or if someone in your family has had oral cancer, you
have higher risk of developing the disease. The presence of HPV has also been
linked to increased oral cancer risk.
You can develop oral cancer at
any age, though your risk increases dramatically after you hit 45. Your diet
may also contribute to developing oral cancer, so be sure to eat a diet full of
vegetables and fruits to help prevent cancerous cell growth. Men also get oral
cancer more frequently than women.
Understand Prevention and the Importance of
Routine Dental Care
There are ways for you to thwart
the onset of oral cancer. Limit your consumption of alcohol and protect your
face and lips in sunlight. Quit tobacco and eat a balanced diet. Learn the
common symptoms of oral cancer and be aware of any changes to your oral health.
You have a better chance of
surviving oral cancer the earlier you receive a diagnosis. Dentists are often
very important in diagnosing oral cancers in patients, which is one reason why
routine dental care is so essential to your total body health. You should visit
the dentist at least twice a year to make sure he has adequate time to diagnose
oral cancer. If you are at higher risk, your dentist may want to see you more
often than twice a year. Regular screenings ensure that we catch any cancer
faster, which gives you more time for treatment and increases your chances of
survival.
We want you to live a long,
healthy life, and the Foothills Dental team is here to protect your oral health
along the way. If it’s been more than six months since you’ve seen your
dentist, call us today to set up an appointment.
To learn more oral cancer screening or to schedule an appointment, call Foothills
Dental Centre. Trusted and proudly serving Hinton, Edson, Jasper,
Grande Cache, Spruce Grove, Whitecourt and the Drayton Valley.