According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, roughly 42,000 Americans become diagnosed with oral cancer every year. Unfortunately, 8,000 of those patients will succumb to the disease, which makes the mortality rate for this type of cancer higher than those of cervical, thyroid or skin cancers. While oral cancer isn’t difficult to diagnose, it’s typically not discovered until the later stages. At that point, the cancer has spread and treatment is often difficult.
Your Ankeny dentist, Dr. Amanda Foust, wishes to increase awareness for this illness. In this blog, she will highlight the key symptoms of oral cancer to encourage her patients to seek treatment, should any of this signs arise.
When You Should Seek the Dentist
- Red and white patches. A key sign to oral cancer, includes white or red patches on the tongue. If similar a patches of color appear on your tongue, make an appointment Dr. Foust.
- Sore or blister in the mouth. Have you noticed a small sore or blister in your mouth that doesn’t seem to heal? That symptom might indicate oral cancer. If the sore doesn’t heal within two weeks, visit the dentist.
- Difficulty swallowing. If you’re having trouble moving your jaw, speaking, eating, or moving your tongue, these signs could indicate greater issues. Additionally, difficulty swallowing isn’t a symptom exclusively associated with oral cancer, however, a quick visit to the dentist wouldn’t hurt.
- Persistent headaches. Frequent earaches often mean infections, although it’s been linked to oral cancer. Should those continue, see the doctor as soon as possible.
- Dental alignments. In some cases, oral cancer can cause loose teeth and ill-fitting dentures. Consult Dr. Foust if you experience any changes to your teeth or jaw.
- Oral bleeding. As a symptom of oral cancer and other diseases, any oral bleeding requires the attention of a dentist. If you’re had any oral bleeding, take care to see Dr. Foust.
Visit Your Ankeny Dentist for Oral Cancer Screenings
Oral cancer is a serious illness that affects thousands of people worldwide each year. With regular visits to your Ankeny dentist, you can receive routine oral cancer screenings included with every cleaning. To schedule an appointment, call us at (515) 965-0230. Also, visit our website to print patient forms, learn about our team, and view our services. Our friendly office looks forward to treating patients from Polk City, Bondurant, Elkhart, Alleman and surrounding cities.
