Cancer is one of the most devastating diseases of our time, and it can affect any part of the body — including the mouth. Oral cancer might not be as prevalent or talked-about as breast cancer or lung cancer, but that doesn’t mean you should disregard the possibility that it could affect you. In fact, receiving regular oral cancer screenings could save your life. But just how often should you get screened by your dentist in Jacksonville?
Annual Yearly Cancer Screenings
The standard recommendation is that adults get screened for oral cancer annually. Being diligent about getting yourself checked could save you from becoming one of the roughly 10,000 people who die from this condition each year.
An oral cancer screening is a quick and easy process, which is often included as part of a regular dental exam. Different dentists have varying tools in their office to help them detect the earliest signs of cancer, but oftentimes a tactile and visual examination is enough to spot early symptoms. During your screening, your family dentist in Jacksonville will look for:
- Sores, lumps, or swelling anywhere around your mouth or throat
- Red or white lesions on your mouth or lips
- Loose teeth without an obvious dental cause
Also, be sure to tell your dentist if you’ve been experiencing other unusual symptoms, like trouble swallowing, unexplained pain in your mouth, or pain in one of your ears without any hearing loss.
Some People Should Get Screened More Often
For most people, an annual screening is enough to protect their health. However, if you have certain risk factors, it may benefit you to undergo a screening twice or more a year. Those who are more likely to get oral cancer include:
- Tobacco users. Tobacco use in any form is the single greatest risk factor for oral cancer.
- Those who drink a lot. About seven out of 10 people with oral cancer consume significant amounts of alcohol. People who both smoke and drink a lot may have 100 times the cancer risk of those who neither smoke nor drink.
- Anyone who has contracted HPV16. This strain of the human papilloma virus has been connected to throat cancer.
- Senior citiziens. Oral cancer is most common in those age 55 and over.
- People with a weakened immune system. Certain conditions, like HIV/AIDS, hinder the body’s ability to fight off cancer.
If you have any of the above risk factors, we encourage you to get screened as soon as possible. Oral cancer has an 83 percent five-year survival rate if it is caught before it spreads to other parts of the body. However, if it is allowed to make its way into distant bodily systems, the five-year survival rate drops to 38 percent.
Oral cancer is a killer — don’t let it claim you! By getting screened regularly, you may just save your own life.
About Us
Drs. Rose Johnson and Wayne Barker are proud to be your dentists in Jacksonville. They provide oral cancer screenings as well as other preventive dental services to keep your family’s smiles health and strong. If you have questions about our practice or would like to schedule an appointment, please contact us at 904-645-6457.