By Elyse Brumfield, RDH
Supervised and Edited by Dr. Levy Do, DDS

You may be used to going to your routine visits at the dentist every 3-6 months to get your cleanings done. But did you know that your appointment is so much more than just a cleaning? It can actually save your life! We don’t want you to come in every few months just to take x-rays and check for cavities. At each appointment, we perform an oral cancer screening to make sure we don’t see any signs or symptoms of oral cancer.

You may be thinking, “I feel fine. I don’t see anything wrong in my mouth and nothing hurts.”

The fact is that oral cancer and abnormal cell growth actually starts below the surface where we can’t see anything clinically with just our eyes. By the time we see the signs and symptoms of oral cancer, it may be in the late stages.

How Common Is Oral Cancer?

In 2021, there were around 54,000 new oral cancer cases in the United States. That’s 1 in every 60 men and 1 in every 140 women. The average survival rate for oral cancer is currently 5 years*.

Am I At Risk?

Everyone is at risk of developing oral cancer, but there are some factors that will make you be considered high risk of getting oral cancer. These include:

• Heavy Smokers

• Heavy Drinkers

• Excess Body Weight

• Overexposure to UV Light (Tanning/ Sun Exposure)

• Exposure to the Human Papillomavirus (HPV)

• Men over the age of 45

• Genetic Factors

What are the Signs and Symptoms of Oral Cancer?

As mentioned before, you usually won’t see anything in the beginning stages of oral cancer. As it grows, you may notice certain signs or symptoms which include, but aren’t limited to:

• Sores in the mouth or on the lip that don’t heal

• Pain in the mouth that won’t go away

• A lump on the tongue, lip, mouth, or cheek

• The feeling that something is caught in your throat

• Sore Throat

• Trouble swallowing, chewing, or moving the jaw

• Numbness in the mouth or tongue

• Loosening of teeth

• Voice changes

• Weight Loss

• Ear Pain

How Do I Prevent Oral Cancer?

You may be thinking, “I have some of those symptoms!” It doesn’t mean that you have oral cancer, but it is always a good idea to take the precautions to prevent it.

• Smoking Cessation: Tobacco use exposes your mouth and body to toxins and cancer-causing chemicals that usually begin in the mouth. Quitting smoking or chewing can reduce your risk of oral cancer by 35% in the first 4 years of quitting and by 80% within 20 years of quitting!

• Drink in Moderation: Chronic alcohol intake irritates the cells in the mouth which can cause cancer. Drink in moderation, or not at all. This will reduce your oral cancer risk by 2% every year that you don’t drink.

• Eat Healthy: Eating healthy not only helps you lose weight, gives your more energy, and makes your whole body healthy overall, but it also reduces your oral cancer risk!

• Wear Sunscreen: Some oral cancers start with skin cancer on the face or in the lips. Avoiding tanning salons and wearing sunscreen, even when inside will reduce your risk of getting skin cancer by 23% which also reduces your risk of it spreading to the oral areas.

• Go to Your Routine Oral Checkups: The dentist is your regular checkup for all things related to the mouth, your oral cavity. This means that your regular dentist checkup and cleaning is just as important as going to your routine annual doctor’s checkup! At your dental visit, we will check your face, lymph nodes, lips, tongue, cheeks, and gingiva for any signs or symptoms of oral abnormalities that could indicated oral cancer. Your routine cleanings will also prevent the bacteria that can cause certain cancers from lying dormant in your mouth, reducing your risk of oral cancer.

Introducing the New VELscope Technology!

If you know Dr. Do, you know that he is all about keeping up with the latest technology to keep our patients as healthy as possible. That is why he has now adopted the use of the VELscope® Enhanced Oral Assessment System. This state-of-the-art technology uses fluorescent blue-light to to illuminate the oral tissues so that we can detect oral cancer below the surface, where we cannot see with the naked eye. It is a quick, easy, and painless way to catch oral cancer in its earliest stages and save lives!

In celebration of this new technology, your first VELscope® Oral Cancer Screening is complimentary. We recommend this assessment at each appointment. It is a cost-efficient and easy way to save your life and some insurances will cover the cost. We’ve also added this service to our VIP Membership plan exams at no additional cost! We’ve got you covered. Call us today to schedule your next appointment.

*American Cancer Society: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/oral-cavity-and-oropharyngeal-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/survival-rates.html