Reduce Your Risk of Oral Cancer
Tobacco use, alcohol consumption, sun exposure to the lips,
and the human papillomavirus are all known risk factors for oral
cancers. By modifying our lifestyle, ensuring that our children
receive the HPV vaccine, examining our mouths for suspicious
changes, and scheduling regular dental hygiene visits, we can
reduce this risk of illness.
Did you know that dental hygienists provide oral cancer
screenings at each appointment and will make referrals to
specialists if they spot anything unusual? They also remind us
to watch for the following changes in our mouths between
appointments:
- Alterations to the colour or texture of gums, cheeks, lips or tongue
- Mouth lumps or sores that do not heal within 14 days
- Chronic sore throat or cough
- Difficulty swallowing
- Lumps in the neck, including those that aren’t bothersome
- Mouth or ear pain
Oral and oropharyngeal
cancers, now among
the 10 most common
cancers worldwide,
often go unnoticed at
first because they can
develop without pain
or symptoms. But, if
the cancer is detected
early and before it has
spread to other tissues,
it can usually be treated
successfully.
Visit www.dentalhygienecanada.ca/oralcancer for tools to help you check
your mouth for oral cancer today.