Oral Cancer Awareness Month

Did you know that April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month?

On average, one person dies of oral cancer every hour. Those who survive oral cancer are often left with deformities, which frequently make it hard or impossible to eat and drink normally. These injuries also dramatically alter facial appearances. Due to the destructive power of oral and pharyngeal cancers, these diseases have a higher fatality rate than most.

What is Oral Cancer?

As its name implies, oral cancer is a cancer of the mouth. Tumors may appear inside the mouth, such as on the hard or soft palate, tongue, gums, or cheeks. In other cases, oral cancer may appear outside of the mouth; in these cases, it is often found within the lips, sinuses, and throat. In general, it is more commonly found in men, particularly those over the age of 50. However, anyone can develop oral cancer.

Some of the factors that may increase risks for oral cancer include:

• Smoking, including vaping
• Excessive alcohol use
• Excessive exposure to the sun
• Some strains of HPV
• Having a family history of oral cancer
• Poor diet

How To Combat Oral Cancer

Fortunately, there’s a way to prevent all of this heartache. In addition to cutting out common risk factors, a simple visit to your local dentist offers you the chance to be painlessly screened for oral cancer. Every dentist is trained to spot the signs of this disease, even in its early stages, and the key to survival is swift and early detection.

In fact, the five-year survival rate for this disease is 85% when spotted early. Compare that to the average survival rate of 60% among those diagnosed in its later stages, and you’ll see why oral health is so important! Moreover, the longer oral cancer is allowed to grow, the more likely it is to spread to other parts of the body.

There’s no excuse to avoid this simple screening process! “There’s no dentist near me” won’t help you when it’s too late, so schedule your appointment with Brush Dental in Seattle today. Your oral health is a crucial part of your bodily wellbeing, so don’t put dentistry on the backburner.