This post from Hammond Aesthetic and General Dentistry in Provo focuses on a very serious matter—oral cancers.
The medical community categorizes oral cancers as a subset of head and neck cancers.
Oral cancers can arise in the following locations:
- The tongue
- The roof of the mouth and under the tongue
- The inside of the cheeks
- The oropharynx (the part behind the soft palate)
- The salivary glands
- The lips
Oral Cancers Are Particularly Deadly
Over 50,000 people are diagnosed with a type of oral cancer every year, and 10,000 people die from it. They are more common in men than women. There is no disparity when it comes to race.
The prognosis is usually grim: statistics reveal that only 57 percent of those diagnosed this year will be alive in five years.
Warning Signs
Let’s consider the common, and the not-so-common, warning signs of oral cancer.
- Any sore or lump in the mouth or throat should be taken seriously.
- Any white or red patch could also be a symptom.
- Numbness of any oral feature
- Any type of lesion, cut, or canker-type sore that doesn’t heal within 14 days
Less-common symptoms include tongue pain and loose teeth. A hoarse voice that doesn’t go away should be a concern. Unexplained tooth discoloration is rare but not unheard of.
The link between any cancer and tobacco is by now well-established. Whay may not be widely known is that this includes vaping.
At Hammond Aesthetic and General Dentistry in Provo, oral cancer screenings are among the special services we provide at every checkup. We offer a full range of services, including dental implants. Call to schedule an appointment today!
Contact Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry:
801-374-0070
Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):
3575 N 100 E Ste 200
Provo, Utah
84604
