{"id":193,"date":"2020-02-29T14:37:04","date_gmt":"2020-02-29T14:37:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dolfielddental.com\/blog\/?p=193"},"modified":"2020-06-18T17:36:21","modified_gmt":"2020-06-18T17:36:21","slug":"why-are-regular-oral-cancer-screenings-so-important","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dolfielddental.com\/blog\/2020\/02\/29\/why-are-regular-oral-cancer-screenings-so-important\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Are Regular Oral Cancer Screenings So Important?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Patient<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Did you know that getting regular dental checkups could save\nyour life as well as your smile? An important part of your routine examination\nis an oral\ncancer screening<\/a>. This common cancer affects more than 50,000 Americans\nevery year, and it can be deadly if left undetected. Thankfully, an early\ndiagnosis can significantly increase the likelihood of successful treatment.\nRead on to find out more about this common cancer and its symptoms as well as\nhow regular dental checkups can keep you and your smile safe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

What is Oral Cancer?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Oral cancer is an uncontrollable growth of cells in the\nmouth which will spread and damage the surrounding tissues. This can happen\nanywhere in the oral cavity, including the lips, tongue, cheeks, roof or floor\nof the mouth, gums, sinuses, or throat. It\u2019s estimated that oral cancer will be\ndiscovered in almost 53,000 people next year and cause nearly 10,000 deaths.\nThe Oral Cancer Foundation reports that the high death rate isn\u2019t because this\ncondition is hard to identify, but because it\u2019s often not diagnosed until its\nlater stages. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Can Regular Dental Checkups Help?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Every six months at your routine dental checkup, your\ndentist will carefully search for any early warning signs of oral cancer. With\nspecial lights, advanced tools, and years of training, your dentist can get a\nmuch better look at your mouth to spot any irregularities. Typically, they\u2019ll\ncheck your neck, face, and head along with the inside of your mouth for any\nabnormal lumps, discolorations, or sores.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019ve ever tried to take a close look at the back of\nyour mouth, you know it can be difficult to keep an eye on your own oral\nhealth. That\u2019s why it\u2019s so important that you get a dental checkup and oral\ncancer screening every six months. Not only will this keep your smile sparkling\nand clean, but it will help identify any issues and begin treatment as early as\npossible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Are the Symptoms of Oral Cancer? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Some of the most common warning signs of oral cancer\ninclude:<\/p>\n\n\n\n