Just like screenings for other cancers like breast, prostate, and skin cancers, oral cancer should be screened by a professional on a consistent basis. Unfortunately, oral cancer is most often discovered when it is late in development, which means that it has often had more than enough time to metastasize and spread through other parts of the body. For this reason, early detection of oral cancer can actually give a person an 80% better chance of surviving.

Identifying Oral Cancer

Visiting your dentist twice a year for your dental exams was always important so you can ensure the health of your teeth, but now it is a matter of life and death since your dentist can help identify oral cancer in its early stages. Finding small bumps or irregularities in the mouth should always be reported to your dentist. Even if it is not oral cancer, it could be an indicator of something like gum disease or a root canal infection.

The most common places that are affected by oral cancer:

• The front two-thirds of the tongue
• The soft tissue under the tongue
• The lining of the lips and cheeks
• The roof of the mouth
• The salivary glands
• The area behind the wisdom teeth
• The gums

In the event that anything is discovered during your dental exam, your dentist will inform you so that you can make a follow up with an appointment with an oral cancer specialist.