Catching Oral Cancer Early Saves Lives

THOUGH JUST AS SERIOUS, ORAL CANCER DOESN’T SEEM TO GET QUITE THE “PRESS” that other types of cancer seem to get. In the United States alone, over 35,000 people are diagnosed with oral cancer every year. While early detection boosts the survival rate to 80–90%, most cases aren’t caught in time for this statistic to help their chances.

Why does oral cancer so often go undetected? One of the most probable reasons is that a lot of the symptoms are not painful so people don’t even realize they have it.

According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, if you experience any of the following symptoms, you should have Dr. Guzman take a look:

  • A sore inside your mouth that doesn’t heal within two weeks
  • A white or red patch on any part of your inner mouth or throat
  • Chronic difficulty swallowing or chewing
  • A lump or thickening of your cheek
  • Numbness inside your mouth
  • Difficulty moving your tongue or jaw
  • Jaw swelling

Although having these symptoms doesn’t mean you definitely have oral cancer, getting them looked at by any of our dentists will help us pinpoint the cause and fix the problem.

The best offense is the best defense… keep those regularly scheduled cleaning appointments and checkups. Doing so GREATLY increases the likelihood that any signs of oral cancer will be detected early. It is definitely worth it.

It is our goal to keep you and your loved ones as healthy as possible. Let us know if you have any other questions about oral cancer or any of the symptoms mentioned above. Feel free to become a fan of our Facebook Page to stay informed and stay healthy!

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