Group Health Dental offers oral cancer screenings as part of our comprehensive dental checkups. Our goal during your appointment with us is to provide you with preventive dental care and also to detect any dental health problems, such as oral cancer, while it is in its early state. Early detection of oral cancer is one way to give you a higher survival rate against this type of cancer.
During our oral cancer screening, we will visually screen you to see if there is a presence of any abnormal cell growth in its early state. We will also feel for the presence of lumps or lesions inside and outside your oral cavity.
There are many typical signs and symptoms of oral cancer.
- Lumps
- Thick or rough spots found in your lips, gum or other parts of your mouth.
- Excessive bleeding in your mouth
- Soreness in your mouth
- White or red patches in your mouth
- Sore Throat
- Jaw movement may be limited
There are several lifestyle choices that can cause you to be at a higher risk for oral cancer. If you work outside or have prolonged exposure to the sunlight you may have an increased risk of developing cancers of your lip. Smoking and tobacco use will both increase your risk of developing oral cancer.
You can protect yourself from oral cancer by wearing sunscreen on your lips and shielding them with a wide-brimmed hat from the sun’s harmful rays. You also should stop heavy drinking and smoking habits that increase your chances of getting oral cancer drastically.
Contact Group Health Dental today to schedule your regular checkup.
