Ormond Beach Periodontics and Implant Dentistry
  • Home
  • Our Practice
  • Who We Serve
  • Case Studies
  • Blog
  • Contact Us

Tips For A Brighter Smile

Schedule Appointment
386-672-9440, Mon-Thurs 8am - 5pm, Fri 9am - 1pm
220 S Nova Road, Ormond Beach, FL 32174

What You Need to Know About Oral Cancer

5/23/2018

Comments

What You Need to Know About Oral Cancer
Keeping up good oral health can reduce your risks of a wide variety of dental and periodontal problems, but it may or may not prevent oral cancer.

Oral cancer, like other cancers, is a life threatening conditions. It needs to be caught as early as possible to maximize the chances of successful treatment. Treatment is by surgical removal of affected tissues, followed by radiation and/or chemotherapy.
Your periodontist can't treat oral cancer, but he or she can help diagnose it and help you quickly find the needed treatment.

What Exactly Is Oral Cancer?
Oral cancer is a broad term. It can refer to cancerous tumors or cells forming on the lips, tongue, inner cheeks, top or bottom of the mouth, on the gums, in the sinus cavity, or in the throat.

The symptoms associated with oral cancer are quite diverse. First, the presence of lumps, erosion, swelling, or thickened areas in the oral cavity OR the presence of white, red, or red-and-white spots are a major indication.

Soreness, unusual bleeding inside your mouth, numbness, or hyper-sensitivity of the mouth, face, or neck are also symptomatic. Difficulty chewing, swallowing, or speaking and a feeling as if something were stuck in your throat are additional symptoms.

Finally, pain in the ear, a sore throat that seemingly won't go away, and sudden, dramatic weight loss could also be symptoms.

Risk Factors for Oral Cancer
Oral cancers generally begin in the very thin (squamous) cells lining the lips and inside of the mouth. Cells mutate genetically and keep growing when ordinary cells would die. The mutated cells then spread to other parts of the oral cavity and sometimes beyond.

No one really knows for sure what causes the cancerous cells to develop, but we do know of a number of risk factors that increase the chances that someone will develop this kind of cancer.

Smoking or using any form of tobacco products is a huge risk factor for oral cancer. Drinking excessive amounts of alcoholic beverages also greatly increases your risks.

Weak immune health, the STD virus called HPV, and genetic predisposition are additional risk factors. For lip cancer, too much sun exposure is a risk factor and a possible contributing cause.

Preventing Oral Cancer
Again, you can't guarantee a prevention of oral cancer by anything you do. But there are things you can do to reduce the risks and catch it early if oral cancer ever should appear.

First of all, quitting smoking and drinking in moderation if at all will reduce your risks significantly. Getting plenty of vitamins and minerals in a healthy, balanced diet is just as important - especially because of the antioxidants in fruits and vegetables that help "detox" your body naturally.

Avoiding excessive sun exposure will help protect you against lip cancer.

Finally, maintaining good oral health, being aware of what symptoms to look for, and seeing your periodontist at least once a year for a oral cancer screening exam and general oral health check up, will help ensure it's caught and treated early if you were to get that dread disease.

Your periodontist will know how to examine you for all symptoms and how to take a biopsy if necessary.

To learn more about oral cancer awareness and prevention, feel free to contact Dr. Raymond A. Kenzik in Ormond Beach, FL, today.

Start smiling brighter, laughing harder, and being more confident.

Dr. Beauchamp's periodontics and implant dentistry practice is conveniently located on Nova Road in Ormond Beach, Florida. We help seniors, adults, and teenagers smile with confidence.
Schedule Appointment

Categories

All
Bone Grafts
Botox
Cavities
Crown Lengthening
Dental Hygiene
Dental Implants
Dentures
Flossing
Gum Disease
Laser Periodontal Treatment
Oral Cancer
Oral Health
Periodontics
PST Grafts
Sedation Dentistry
Teeth Grinding
Teeth In A Day
Tooth Extraction
Tooth Sensitivity

Archives

September 2019
August 2019
July 2019
June 2019
May 2019
April 2019
March 2019
February 2019
January 2019
December 2018
November 2018
October 2018
September 2018
August 2018
July 2018
June 2018
May 2018
April 2018
March 2018
February 2018
January 2018
December 2017
November 2017
October 2017
September 2017
August 2017
July 2017
June 2017
May 2017
April 2017
March 2017
February 2017
January 2017
December 2016
November 2016
October 2016
September 2016
August 2016
July 2016
June 2016
May 2016
April 2016
March 2016
February 2016
January 2016
December 2015
October 2015
September 2015
August 2015
July 2015
June 2015
May 2015
April 2015

Our Services Include:

  • Sedation Dentistry
  • Surgical Extractions
  • Simple Extractions
  • Dental Implants
  • Teeth In One Day
  • Bone Grafts
  • Biological Accelerators
  • Ridge Preservation
  • Sinus Augmentation
  • Soft Tissue Grafts
  • Pinhole Surgical Graft Technique
  • Periodontal Treatment
  • Laser Periodontal Treatment
  • Crown Lengthening
  • Botox Procedures
© Ormond Beach Periodontics and Implant Dentistry |  Privacy Policy  |  Website Design by New York Ave.

$99 Special


New Patient Exams


Includes a complete and personal Exam, Digital X-Rays, and CT Scan.
($400+ total value) New patients only.
Click To Claim Offer
⨉