Stop Oral Cancer with Your Dentist near Stillwater Ranch

Everything in your life can seem perfectly fine and then get turned on its head. You’re driving like you do every day, and then your transmission suddenly breaks. Your car, which you hardly gave a second thought to, is now your number one concern and can impact your whole life. The same can be said for oral cancer. Everything can seem normal until that one diagnosis, and then your whole life can change. Your dentist near Stillwater Ranch from Alamo Springs Dental can help you not be caught off guard.

What Causes Oral Cancer?

Like all cancers that occur in the body, oral cancer is an uncontrollable growth of cells that damages the surrounding tissue in the mouth and throat. Oral cancer often appears as either a sore or growth in the mouth, and these can often be missed in the early stages. It can also manifest as chronic pain in the jaw or neck. Some common causes of oral cancer are:

• Tobacco Use (smoking and smokeless)
• Excessive Alcohol Use
• Family History of Oral Cancer
• Human Papillomavirus (HPV)

While tobacco users are at a higher risk of oral cancer, over 25% of cases occur in people who do not smoke and only drink occasionally. The key to treating oral cancer is to catch it early, as the survival rate drops drastically after 5 years.

How Your Dentist Can Help

As part of your regular check-up with your dentist near Stillwater, Dr. Michele Moreno and Dr. Aiyana Anderson will screen you for oral cancer. They will check your mouth, throat, jaw, and neck for any lumps or abnormalities that could indicate oral cancer. If they find something that causes concern, they may organize for you to have a biopsy so the tissue can be tested. Oral cancer, when caught within the first year, has an 81% survival rate, which is a third higher than patients who are diagnosed after 5 years. The sooner it is caught the easier it will be to treat. Regular check-ups and screenings can not only help your teeth stay healthy, but also help save your life as well. This is why it is so important that you visit your dentist on a regular basis.

Questions?

If you have any questions about how you can prevent oral cancer, please give us a call. Also, if you notice any sores or strange growths in your mouth or throat, please make an appointment with your dentist in 78254 immediately. We want to help you catch oral cancer early so that you have the best chance of survival. Come see us so you can have peace of mind and be with your family well into the future.