When you think about going to your dentist, chances are that you are worried that your dentist is going to find cavities. However, that’s not the worst thing that your dentist might find in your mouth. A lot of Americans already have or are in the beginning stages of oral cancer. This often is a surprise to them until their dentist sees it during their check-up.
Have Frequent Check-ups
Unlike other problems with your mouth, which often start showing symptoms immediately, oral cancer is one of the health conditions that often won’t show any type of symptoms until it’s progressed. It’s a lot easier to treat when it’s caught quickly, so you want to have frequent screening for mouth cancer so that it’s caught quickly.
In general, the majority of people ought to be checked for oral cancer at least annually. People who use tobacco or whose family has a history of cancer, might need to go go more frequently.
Pay Attention to Your Mouth
It’s simple to check your mouth to see if you have oral cancer is easy. Chances are that the dentist is going to have you swish a blue liquid in your mouth, and then he is going to look into your mouth using a flashlight. He also may feel around in your throat or mouth. These types of procedures are simple and quick and generally you’re going to have your results immediately.
For the majority of people, screenings for oral cancer are just an easy and quick part of their dental checkup. They’re not scary and they won’t take a lot of time. But for those who are developing a type of oral cancer or who have it, these fast screenings can catch their oral cancer fast or mean that they are going to lose their battle with a curable and preventable disease.
Whether your oral cancer risk is increased or you are at average risk, you’re going to benefit from having these screenings each year.