Should I Be Screening Myself for Oral Cancer?

In a word: Ab-so-lute-ly! Pretend those hyphens are the “clapping hands” emoji, because we want to emphasize how important it is to get up close and personal with your mouth in the interests of oral cancer detection. 

Currently, oral cancer kills one person in the United States per hour. The reason it’s so deadly is largely due to later stage diagnoses. While tobacco use of any kind and high alcohol consumption remain strong links to the disease, the biggest risk factor today is human papillomavirus (HPV).

I Screen, You Screen, We All Should Screen!

You can count on your Cornelius dentist, Dr. Ryan Whalen to screen you for oral cancer whenever you visit us, but if we only see you twice a year (or less), self-examinations can give you peace of mind or help you spot abnormalities sooner. To learn how to examine your mouth and what to look for, please ask us about oral cancer self-exams at your next visit!

We don’t want to be alarmist and have you checking your mouth fearfully each day, but a once-monthly check that takes about 10 minutes total could make the difference between a grim survival rate and a more positive prognosis.

We’re here to answer any questions you might have about oral cancer or other dental health-related topics, so be sure to contact Whalen Dentistry if you’ve got something on your mind or would like to schedule a visit!

The content of this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.