Regular oral cancer screening is something that all at-risk individuals should consider. That being said, even if you are not someone who is inherently at-risk of oral cancer, it is generally best to have regular screenings conducted. As the saying goes, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Additionally, the sooner we can catch cancer, the better off you will be. Read on and reach out to our knowledgeable New Jersey dental team to learn more about oral cancer and how we can help prevent it through regular oral cancer screening. Here are some of the questions you may have:
How does oral cancer occur?
The most common cause of oral cancer is excessive tobacco and alcohol use. Drinking and smoking cause cells in your mouth to mutate and multiply, which leads to oral cancer. In the worst cases, oral cancer will spread throughout the body and become an even greater problem. That being said, various forms of oral cancer, such as teratoma and melanoma, can occur for other reasons as well, including overexposure to sunlight, a weakened immune system, or genetics.
What are the most common signs of oral cancer?
There are several common signs of oral cancer. In most cases, if you are someone who is having difficulty swallowing, or you find it unusually painful to swallow on a regular basis, you may have oral cancer. Other warning signs to look out for are losing teeth, red patches in the mouth, or growths/sores in the mouth or on lips that do not go away on their own. That being said, in many cases oral cancer may go undetected until it is too late. Plenty of people with oral cancer are entirely asymptomatic, which is why it is so critical that people get regularly screened for oral cancer–especially those that are particularly at risk.
What happens at an oral cancer screening?
At your oral cancer screening, your dentist will simply examine your mouth, and if there are any potential symptoms of oral cancer, such as red patches, lumps, thickened tissues, or otherwise, he or she will order a biopsy. The biopsy is a very simple procedure and will inform us whether the abnormality is cancerous or not. If you are at-risk or suspect anything is wrong, have an oral cancer screening done today.
Contact the Dental Associates of Basking Ridge
Dental Associates of Basking Ridge is a compassionate, gentle, and professional state-of-the-art dental practice serving Basking Ridge, Morris & Somerset County. Our office is always ready to greet our patients with a smile, take the time to answer any questions, and provide the quality dental services our patients expect. Please contact us to schedule an appointment. We look forward to serving you!
