At Midtown Toronto Dental, our number one priority is for you to live a long and healthy life. A common worry for many patients is their risk of oral cancer.
As it only takes a few moments, we make it routine to have your oral cancer screening as part of every cleaning visit. And don’t worry, even if we find something suspicious you can still have a positive result when diagnosed and treated effectively.
Here’s the scoop
Oral cancer can affect anyone, but smoking and alcohol increase the risk.
The good news?
When detected early, outcomes improve dramatically.
EARLY DETECTION
The first thing to remember is to visit your dentist regularly for checkups. At Midtown Toronto Dental, oral cancer screenings are part of your routine exams. We will check for oral cancer signs or indicators, including feeling for irregular tissues or bumps-and-lumps in your mouth, neck, and head. If Dr. Yoo notices anything unusual or concerning, a biopsy may be recommended for further examination.
COMMON SIGNS OF ORAL CANCER
Be assured that your dentist has the skills and proper tools to detect early signs of oral cancer. While these symptoms may be due to other, less serious factors, it’s always important to visit Midtown Toronto Dental to rule out the possibility of oral cancer. The most common symptoms of oral cancer include:
-Red or white sores or spots in the mouth
-A sore that does not heal or bleeds easily
-A thick, lumpy, or rough spot of irregular mouth tissue
-Pain, tenderness, or numbness in the mouth or on the lips
-Problems chewing, swallowing, speaking or moving your jaw
HOW TO PREVENT ORAL CANCER
Aside from visiting us for your check-up every six months, there are other ways you can prevent the development of oral cancer. The number one way to prevent oral cancer is to avoid all tobacco products, including vaping and e-cigarettes. Also maintaining a healthy and balanced diet has more benefits than just preventing oral cancer. Other tips include limiting your UVA/UVB sun exposure, and always wear protective skin and lip care.
COME VISIT US TODAY
At Midtown Toronto Dental we perform an oral cancer screening during all standard evaluations. Contact us today to schedule your appointment with Dr. Yoo.