The two types of oral cancer are those that arise in the oropharynx (middle region of the throat, including the tonsils and base of the tongue) and the oral cavity (your lips, the inside of your lips and cheeks, teeth, gums, the front two-thirds of your tongue, and the floor and roof of your mouth).
Better treatment results and preventing you or a loved one from becoming one of the 11,230 individuals whose lives might be taken by the illness this year are two benefits of early detection. About 60% of people with a diagnosis survive for five years.
Where Does Oral Cancer Show Up?
Lips, cheek lining, gums, the front portion of the tongue, the floor of the mouth beneath the tongue, and the hard palate that forms the roof of the mouth are all considered to be part of the oral cavity. The soft area of the roof of your mouth is where the throat (pharynx) begins, and it continues back into your throat. It consists of the base where the tongue connects to the floor of your mouth and the rear portion of your tongue.
What Signs Indicate Oral Cancer?
The following symptoms should be recognized, and if they do not go away after two weeks, you should consult your dentist.
- A persistent ache or irritability
- White or red patches
- Mouth or lip pain, discomfort, or numbness
- A lump, crust, hard patch, thickening, or little region that has eroded
- Having trouble speaking, swallowing, eating, or moving your jaw or tongue
- When you close your mouth, the way your teeth fit together changes.
Some persons report of hoarseness, numbness, a change in voice, a hurting throat, or the sensation that something is stuck in their throat. Inform your dentist if you experience any of these symptoms, particularly if they have persisted for longer than two weeks.
What Are the Oral Cancer Risk Factors?
Oral cancer risk is increased by several variables that have been found by research. Oral cancer is twice as common in males as in women. The most vulnerable are those over 50 who smoke and drink too much alcohol.
Back of the mouth throat malignancies have also been linked to the sexually transmitted human papilloma virus (HPV). The increase in throat cancers among individuals who do not smoke is linked to HPV-positive head and neck malignancies. It might be challenging to identify HPV-positive head and neck cancers since they usually appear in the tonsil folds and at the base of the tongue in the throat. Early detection is linked to the best results, even though individuals with HPV-positive tumors are less likely to die or experience a recurrence than those with HPV-negative cancers. Early cancer detection may be greatly aided by routine dental examinations that involve a review of the entire head and neck.
How Can My Dentist Aid in the Early Detection of Oral Cancer?
Your dentist will inquire about any changes in your medical history and whether you have been experiencing any new or odd symptoms during your routine examination.
Your mouth cavity will then be examined by your dentist. This covers the floor and roof of your mouth, the front portion of your tongue, your lips, the lining of your cheeks, and your gums. The soft area of the roof of your mouth, including your tonsils, the rear portion of your tongue, and the point where your tongue connects to the bottom of your mouth, will also be examined by your dentist. After that, the dentist will feel for lumps or irregularities in your jaw and neck.
What Takes Place If My Dentist Discovers Something Questionable?
Remain composed. Your dentist may recommend that you undergo testing since they are unable to determine immediately if the object they are examining is malignant. Before suggesting any follow-up, your dentist may also inspect you a week or two later to determine whether any suspicious areas are healing on their own. You and your dentist may work together to develop the most effective diagnostic, treatment, and preventive plan.
How Can Oral Cancer Be Prevented?
Knowing your risk factors is the most crucial thing. As men age, their risk of developing mouth cancer doubles. The risk of acquiring oral cancer can be reduced by altering unhealthy eating habits, smoking, and excessive alcohol consumption.
Additionally, you may be at risk from specific strains of HPV. To prevent cervical and other less frequent genital cancers, the CDC advises boys and girls aged 11 to 12 to receive two doses of the HPV vaccination. Since the HPV vaccine prevents an initial infection with HPV types that can cause head and neck cancers, it may also prevent these cancers. However, the data from the ongoing studies is insufficient to determine whether the HPV vaccine will prevent head and neck cancers. The CDC states that routine vaccinations can begin as early as age 9.
Continue your routine checkups since you may be at a higher risk of developing oral cancer again if you have already had it.