April is oral cancer awareness month. The most important thing that your Norman dentist wants to stress is that this disease’s bleak reality is completely avoidable. Oral cancer takes one loved one’s life every hour and unfortunately that death rate is expected to rise. This type of cancer can occur with little to no symptoms and can aggressively spread to other parts of the body once it reaches its late stages. Dr. Bobby J. Carmen wishes to create a sense of urgency in screening, diagnosing, and treating abnormalities that are found. Hopefully, you will take these four facts about oral cancer seriously and begin being proactive regarding your oral health.
1. Excessive drinkers and smokers have the highest risk of developing oral cancer.
Tobacco users expose themselves to harmful chemicals multiple times a day. These chemicals aren’t just dangerous to your teeth and gums, but they’re horrible for the rest of your body and you’re ingesting them through your mouth. You increase your chances of developing oral cancer by two-thirds! Patients that ingest alcohol heavily increase their chances of developing the disease by a third. Users that combine both hazardous substances increase their chances of being diagnosed with oral cancer by 100 times!
2. Spending excessive amounts of time in the sun increases chances of cancer.
Did you know that spending long amounts of time in the sun without the correct protection could cause lip cancer (among other cancers in your body)? Sun exposure, going to the tanning salon, and not wearing sunscreen while your lips and mouth are not protected is dangerous. Your lips and mouth have sensitive skin. Wearing lip balm with SPF protection may save you from developing oral cancer over the years.
3. Oral cancer development is divided into stages.
Much like other cancers, oral cancer is monitored and organized by diving it into stages. Each stage represents how big the tumor is, how aggressive it is, and whether it has spread to other organs. To better understand, here’s a quick breakdown of the TNM staging system:
- “T” represents the size of the tumor.
- “N” represents whether the tumor has spread to lymph nodes.
- “M” represents whether the tumor has spread to other parts of the body unrelated to the mouth.
4. Diagnosing and treating oral cancer is critical to surviving the disease.
Oral cancer is especially difficult to diagnose because it can settle without signs or symptoms. Visiting your dentist in Norman is essential to spotting abnormalities in your mouth and ensure early detection. Dr. Carmen offers VELscope, an amazing advancement in dentistry that quickly and effectively screens for signs of oral cancer. With the help of fluorescent technology, your dentist can detect tissue abnormalities as well as use traditional visual examination techniques.
Visit Dr. Carmen Today!
Although there are many lifestyle habits that can increase your risk of developing oral cancer, there are many victims of the disease that are non-smokers, non-drinkers, and excellently take care of their dental health. The best way to stay two steps ahead of this sneaky disease is to get regular oral cancer screenings. Contact our office today to schedule your next appointment.