The sad fact is that cancer can affect any part of the body – and that includes the mouth. Regular visits to your dentist are your first defence to treating mouth cancer with early detection greatly improving your chances of a complete cure.
Ace Dental has advanced technology and innovative methods to detect the early signs of mouth cancer. Our dentists know the symptoms to look for and we can also take additional action during mouth cancer screening to give you the best prospects to treat this debilitating disease.
What Are The Risk Factors?
Cancer is an unpredictable illness and there are often some tell-tale signs. However, there are a number of risk factors that can result in an increased likelihood of getting cancer in the mouth. Some of these factors include:
- Heavy or regular smoking (although all smoking is bad for you)
- Heavy alcohol consumption
- Overexposure to direct sunlight
- Unhealthy diet or lifestyle choices
- Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
- Being over 40
- A compromised immune system
- Men are more prone to mouth cancer than women
Unfortunately, you don’t need to be exposed to these risk factors for mouth cancer to form, although the risk increases with any one of these factors. That is why you should visit your Ace Dental practitioner regulars for mouth cancer screening.
What To Expect
Your dentist will examine your mouth for lesions that may or may not be bleeding, red or white spots and discomfort when you bite down.
Mouth cancer will not be diagnosed during this consultation. A sample of the affected mouth tissue will need to be taken and sent off to be biopsied. This sample will be carefully looked at under a microscope to check for abnormalities and cancerous cells.
Don’t be alarmed though. With regular mouth cancer screening, it is possible to detect changes in your mouth and the cells before they develop into cancer. The earlier these changes are detected, the earlier you can receive treatment and rid yourself of the problem.
If mouth cancer is detected, we can refer you to an oncologist who will determine the extent and severity of the cancer and formulate a plan for treatment of the affected areas.
Can Mouth Cancer Be Prevented?
Unfortunately, even the most health-conscious people can be affected by mouth cancer. That is why mouth cancer screening is so important. Regular mouth cancer screening can detect irregularities and abnormalities inside the mouth long before they mutate into cancer.
You can take a proactive approach to prevent or minimize the risk of mouth cancer. We all know that smoking is bad for us, and if you needed another reason to stop smoking, think of your mouth. Excessive alcohol consumption is also bad news, so limit your alcohol consumption to one or two per day. You should also aim to have a least a couple of alcohol-free days every week.
The sun’s harmful UV rays can also contribute to the development of cancer. Most people may be very diligent with protecting their skin from the sun with sun protection clothing and sunscreen. However, most neglect to protect their lips. There are a number of products you can use that have been formulated for specific parts of your body. Normal sunscreen is fine for most of your body but you should use one that is specific for your face. You can also use a lip gloss type product that protects your lips from the sun.
If you are concerned about mouth cancer, talk to your Ace Dental practitioner. Your dentist can screen your mouth for cancer and offer sound advice on preventing this disease.
Call on 020 8530 4230 to find out how our team can help you improve your smile.
