Learn more about oral cancer, so your mouth can stay healthy and strong in the years to come! Knowing what to look for with oral cancer is the first step to being proactive about your smile health.
Oral cancer can affect any of the tissues in your mouth:
- Lips
- Tongue
- Floor of the mouth
- Cheeks
- Throat (pharynx)
- Sinuses
- Both hard and soft palate
The good news is that oral cancer can often be successfully treated when it is found in its early state. Unfortunately, oral cancer detection is often delayed, until they have progressed into the more serious, advanced stages which are much harder to treat. At its worst, oral cancer is life-threatening.
Early Detection
This is why our team is happy to do everything we can to help you spot this cancer early so it can be effectively dealt with as soon as possible for the best possible outcome. For this reason, our dentists are pleased to provide an oral cancer screening during your routine dental cleanings and exams! This simple but crucial preventative measure can make all the difference in your oral and overall health.
Oral Cancer Symptoms To Watch Out For
- Chronic sore throat or a stuck feeling in the back of the throat
- Dentures no longer fit properly
- Earache
- Long lasting sore on the face, neck or mouth
- Oral sores that bleed easily without healing
- Pain or numbness in the face, neck or mouth
- Red or white patches in the mouth
- Trouble chewing, talking or swallowing
- Unexplained oral bleeding
- Unusual bumps on the gums, lips or elsewhere in the mouth
Be on the lookout for these telltale signs of oral cancer in the mouth in between your routine dental cleanings and exams. The sooner your diagnosis is made the stronger your chances of successfully treating this condition. And if you have any concerns, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team to perform an oral cancer screening to double check what is going on in your smile. Our goal is to help you and your family’s smiles stay as healthy as possible.
Call Today
Our dedicated dental team recommends that you have an oral cancer screening performed once a year so any abnormalities can be treated least invasively. The good news is, oral cancer is one of the most easily treatable forms of cancer when detected in the earliest stages! Please don’t hesitate to reach out to our Valley View Dental team to make your next appointment and answer your questions about oral cancer screening in Romeoville, Naperville, and Montgomery, Illinois. Call today!