SYMPTOMS OF ORAL CANCER

• White or red patches in the mouth
• Bleeding with no apparent cause
• Numbness, pain, or tenderness in the face, mouth, or neck
• Swelling, bumps, or rough spots on the lips, gums, or mouth
• Sores on the face, neck, or mouth that do not go away
• Difficulty chewing, swallowing, talking or moving your tongue or jaw
• Ear pain
• Weight loss
• Chronic sore throat
• Change in your bite

MORE ABOUT ORAL CANCER

Here at Restorative and Implant Dentistry, we are trained in the early detection of oral cancer to ensure that you get treatment at the first signs of cancer. Cancer is characterized by the rapid, uncontrollable growth of cells that damage the surrounding tissue. Oral cancer can appear on the tongue, cheeks, lips, sinuses, palate, and throat. While the possibility of cancer is daunting to think about, it is vital that it is detected in its early stages. At Restorative and Implant Dentistry, your oral health is our top priority.

During your routine dental exam, your dentist can perform a cancer screening, and should do so roughly every three years. At Restorative and Implant Dentistry, a Pompano Beach FL dentist, your oral health is our top priority. During the cancer screening, will look at and feel for any irregular tissue, discoloration, lumps, or changes in your oral cavity. Should there be a cause for concern, your dentist will take a biopsy to confirm the diagnosis. If you do have oral cancer, surgery will be performed to remove the cancerous tissue and chemotherapy or radiation will be prescribed to kill any cancer cells that are still remaining.

Causes of Oral Cancer

• Tobacco
• Alcohol consumption
• Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
• Gender—oral cancer is more common in men than women
• Age—according to the American Cancer Society, most patients are over the age of 55
• Excessive sun exposure
• Weakened immune system
• Nutrition
• Genetic predisposition