The Importance of Early Oral Cancer Detection and Common Symptoms You Can Look Out For

When thinking about possible cancers that can threaten the human body’s health, oral cancer can be easily overlooked. We all hear about lung, breast, and colon cancers fairly regularly. Because of this, you may not realize that oral cancer can be incredibly deadly. It’s predicted that over 50,000 new cases of oral cancer will be diagnosed in 2022 alone. Seeing your dentist regularly for a routine cleaning and examination will also allow for an oral cancer screening. Dr. Reza N. Roodsar and his team at Respond Dental are highly trained and can detect the earliest signs of oral cancer in your mouth to have the best odds of beating it.

What to Look For

While you may see your dentist twice a year, that still leaves time between visits where a professional eye can spot early signs of oral cancer. This makes it very important that you know some of the common symptoms of oral cancer. If you notice any of the following, you should consult with your dentist as soon as possible.

• Red or white patches in the mouth
• Sores that are not healing and bleed
• Thick, hard spots, including lumps
• Areas that become rough or crusted
• Numbness in the mouth
• Pain or tenderness in the mouth
• A change in the way your teeth bite down together
• A sensation that something is being caught in your throat
• Persistent pain in the mouth or throat which will not go away

These are just a few examples of symptoms that may point to developing oral cancer. But if you notice any other symptoms that seem out of the norm, you should always reach out to your dentist. It is also a good idea to cease (or at least minimize) high-risk behaviors such as smoking tobacco, smokeless tobacco, and excessive consumption of alcohol.

Call Respond Dental Today!

It all boils down to this: preventative care is your biggest weapon against oral cancer. Early detection will allow a treatment plan to be formed before the cancer progresses and becomes more life-threatening than it already is, even at the earliest stages. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Reza N. Roodsar at Respond Dental, please call (416) 318-7465.

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