Oral Cancer & Prevention

One of the most devastating conditions that a person may have is a sudden offset of cancer. For all the obvious reasons, no one would ever want to experience this, given that it only gives a certain percentage of survival and a meager chance at that.

Our main focus for this write-up would be oral cancer, also called oral cavity cancer by experts. There are several things to understand about the said condition and its prevention if we ever want to be able to avoid it.

First, take a look at the basics of oral cancer:

• It is a generic term that is applied to any cancer that is in the lining of the mouth or the throat.
• Each year, 40,000 new cases of oral cancer are recorded, with only 12% of them being able to survive more than five years.
• Smoking and chewing tobacco products are the leading factors for the onset and growth of oral cancer, causing 50% of all oral cancer cases.
• It has a very high mortality rate, with those who underwent surgery and radiation treatments only being able to survive for a year.
• The cancerous cells in the mouth or the throat develops slowly, which means that there are very few symptoms to observe, which poses a problem in the early diagnosis of the condition.
• However, you should have a regular check-up with your dentist from time to time, especially if you have been diagnosed of having a precancerous condition.
• Those who use tobacco products should quit it immediately, and the same goes for those who have been diagnosed of having a precancerous condition.

What Are Some of the Ways to Prevent Oral Cancer?

Since the onset of oral cancer can be caused by factors such as smoking and chewing tobacco, it only makes sense that the prevention of this is centred on avoiding them all. This will help you keep your immune system strong and healthy to fight off the cancerous cells, should they ever be discovered in the mouth.

The other ways of prevention are as follows:

1. Keep Your Mouth Healthy and Clean.

A lot of things, such as bad breath and gum disease, can be prevented by keeping your mouth healthy.

2. Keep Your Mouth Moist.

Without moisture, dental plaque and substances that contain acid can develop and contribute to the growth of cancerous cells.

3. Get a Regular Dental Check-Up.

And while you are at it, get regular dental check-ups. You don’t want to be the one who only learns about it once it is already too late.

4. Be on the Lookout for Early Symptoms.

Although it is a well-known fact that the symptoms of oral cancer are not easy to detect, you can still do your best to identify the early symptoms of the condition.

5. Practice Good Oral Hygiene.

As previously mentioned, plaque is one of the major contributors to oral cancer, so you should brush your teeth regularly, as well as floss them.

How is Oral Cancer Treated?

Unfortunately, the treatments of oral cancer have not gotten any better even up to this time.

• Surgery: The patient is treated through surgery, in which the cancerous cells are removed from the mouth or the throat.
• Medication: The doctor may prescribe medications that will help in the treatment of oral cancer.
• Chemo: Chemotherapy may be applied to promote the growth of healthy cells.

Conclusion

Dealing with oral cancer is devastating enough, but it becomes a whole lot worse if you don’t know what you are dealing with. With this guide, we hope that you are now aware of the signs and symptoms of oral cancer, as well as the possible causes and treatments that may be applied to it, just in case.

Always remember, prevention is way better than cure, so start living and eating healthy and keep your mouth clean at all times.

If you are looking for a clinic specializing in general dentistry in Dundas, look no further than our expertise here at Royal East Dental. We offer and specialize in emergency dentistry, pediatric dentistry, Invisalign, root canal treatment near the Dundas valley. Call us today to book your very first dental check-up with us.