The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2020 about 53,260 people will get oral cavity or oropharyngeal cancer, and an estimated 10,750 people will die from these diseases. If you think the mortality rate is high, you wouldn’t be wrong. However, this is not because oral cancer is hard to detect or diagnose, but because it is often discovered late in its development.
That is why regular dental visits are more important than just maintaining a pearly white smile. Dentists are highly trained and experienced in recognizing diseases of the mouth, such as oral cancer, and can immediately detect and diagnose you. They are your first line of defense against this disease.
With that said, you play an important role in early detection as well. According to the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, you should be performing this 6-step oral cancer self-exam every month.
Using a bright light and a mirror:
Be on the lookout for anything suspicious, like:
Should you discover any of these signs, we encourage you to promptly call us to make an appointment for an examination. People have an 80-90% survival rate when oral cancer is diagnosed during the early stages of development. So the sooner the cancer is detected, the easier the treatment, and the higher the chance of a cure.
