While most dental issues probably won’t kill you, oral cancer is a condition that could be life-threatening if it isn’t spotted early. If you smoke, drink alcohol, or have a family history of cancer, you are at most risk for developing oral cancer. It usually presents itself as a persistent sore or growth in the mouth. Early detection and timely treatment are key to catching cancer early and treating it effectively. The team at GPS Dental wants you to know what to look for, so we put together this list.
Look for These Possible Oral Cancer Indicators
Have you experienced any of the following symptoms of oral cancer?
- Sores, lumps or thick patches in or around your mouth or throat
- Red or white lesions on your lips, or in your mouth
- The feeling of a lump in your throat
- Swellings that make dentures uncomfortable
- Numbness, pain or tenderness in your mouth or tongue
- Pain in one ear without loss of hearing
- Trouble moving your jaw or tongue, problems chewing, talking, or swallowing
- Loose teeth with no apparent cause
- Persistent sore throat or hoarseness
- Unexplained bleeding in the mouth
- Dramatic weight loss
- Enlarged lymph nodes in the neck
Some of the symptoms that can signal oral cancer can look like other conditions, so it’s important to get a skilled professional’s opinion. Recent research has also determined that the HPV virus is a leading new cause of oral cancer in non-drinking non-smoking young adults who are sexually active.
Our Oral ID™ Technology Helps Us Catch Oral Cancer Earlier
At GPS Dental, we include an oral cancer screening with every examination. We use Oral ID™during the oral exam. This “fluorescence technology” allows the doctor to identify any suspicious areas at an earlier stage, thus saving lives. Plus, it’s absolutely painless for our patients.
