Oral Cancer

Oral Cancer

Oral cancer includes benign and malignant tumors of the mouth, lips (often the lower lip) and salivary glands. Men are more likely to be infected than women, and oral cancer is often affected by those over 40. Smoking and alcohol consumption are the most important factors causing oral cancer. As with all cancers, the early detection of oral cancer greatly helps to provide greater chances of successful treatment.Hence the importance of regular dentist review to detect the disease in its initial stages, and then treat it before the condition worsens.

• 1

  The importance of early detection of the disease:

  One of the advantages of visiting your dentist regularly is that your doctor can detect the disease before it spreads. The dentist will examine the patient's neck and tissues for tumors, ulcers, red or white spots. Diagnosis of changes in different oral tissues contributes to the detection of oral cancer in its initial stages and therefore its successful treatment. If the opposite occurs and oral cancer is detected in its late stages, malignant tumors will grow in deep oral tissues, and then spread to the lymph nodes of the head and neck, making the condition more complex.

  
  

  Since early detection is of great importance, it is very important to visit the dentist when noticing any change in the mouth or when you have one of the following symptoms:

  
  

  • Ulcers or persistent infections that cause bleeding in the mouth easily as they are not rapidly curable.
  • A change in the color of the tissues of the mouth, for example, may change to red or white.
  • Pain, weakness or anesthesia in different parts of the mouth or lips.
  • Sudden tooth decay.
  • The presence of tumors, thickening, rough spots, crust, or corroded parts inside the mouth.
  • Difficulty chewing, swallowing, talking or moving your jaw or tongue.
  • Change the consistency of the teeth with each other on both jaws when the mouth is completely closed.
• 2

  What are the ways to prevent oral cancer?

  Quitting smoking: Smoking is a major factor in oral cancer, especially if accompanied by excessive alcohol consumption. In fact, this over-consumption of alcohol combined with smoking is the leading cause of infection for nearly 75% of the U.S. population.
• 3

  Some lifestyles as well as various environmental factors increase the risk of oral cancer.

  • Tobacco products: May lead to oral cancer.
  • Prolonged exposure to sunlight on a continuous basis: it may lead to lip cancer.
  • Work in factories, ports or fuel pumps.
  • Nutrition: Recent studies indicate that eating enough fresh vegetables and fruits helps prevent mouth wounds from turning into deadly cancer cells. Vitamins increase your body's immunity and thus increase your immunity to all diseases as well as cancers.

  
  

   

  Maintaining oral Health Routine:

  · Try to check your mouth's health during regular dental cleaning.

  · Elimination of oral cancer factors (e.g. quitting smoking and drinking alcohol).

  · Visit your dentist for tests for oral cancer early.