Shelby Twp. Dentist Explains How Exams Can Prevent Oral Cancer
Hi, this is Dr. Robert Antolak from thegentledentist.com in Shelby Township, Michigan, in Macomb County. We are located on 22 mile, just west of Hayes.
What I want to discuss is, some of the things that we look for during a routine examination. You know, as a patient, you may just think that we’re checking the teeth and things like that. But when we do that, we also check the soft tissues of the mouth on every single patient. Whether you’re a new patient of ours, or you come in for the routine exams and cleanings, we’ll do a full exam. And what we do is we check the soft tissues of the mouth to make sure that things look healthy and normal.
One of the most common areas for oral cancers to develop is under the tongue. So, what we’ll often do, every time actually, is take gauze and take the tongue back and look at the structure of your tongue, the color of the tongue, and the consistency of the tongue. We make sure there’s no lumps or bumps or anything like that around the tongue. The most common area for cancer is in that region but it also can take place back in the pharynx area of the throat.
Knowing these things we want to just make sure that we’re always checking it out. Because, early prevention is the cure. Your cure is going to be much better off, the earlier that it’s caught.
So, if your dentist is not checking your mouth every time for any signs of cancer, you may consider asking why, and/or switching to somebody who does. So, the best prevention is early detection. And, things like smoking and chewing tobacco can actually contribute to the risk of oral cancer.
Also kids in their twenties who have been exposed to HPV are at higher risk also for oral cancers too, which is a fairly new finding. So you don’t have to be an old person to be diagnosed with oral cancer. Young kids can get it too. So make sure you take care of yourself in that capacity. And if you are not married, stay abstinent, and that will reduce any risk of having these problems.
Shelby Twp. Dentist Explains How Exams Can Prevent Oral Cancer
If you would like some more information about the oral cancers and what you can do, call our office at 586-247-3500.