Five Tips before Taking Oral Cancer Screening

What is it that you are focused on first thing in the morning when the matter relates to your oral health? You probably think about avoiding cavities and bad breath but do you also consider the steps needed to prevent oral cancers? Chances are you probably do not because there is a lack of knowledge about these problems including information about how they can be prevented or recognized.

Information about Oral Cancer You Must Have

Here is some important information about cancers affecting the oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer:

• Men are two times likelier to be affected by these cancers than women.
• Younger adults in their 20s and 30s are becoming susceptible to these cancers even as the number of patients in the age group of the 50s is increasing steadily.
• A biopsy is the best way to diagnose oral and oropharyngeal lesions and tumors effectively.
• Although these cancers are found in a small part of the body it must be understood that each variety has different causes and treatments.
• Patients that have undergone an organ transplant and are on immunosuppression medications are at an increased risk of head and neck cancer.

If you keep your mouth and throat healthy these cancers can be treated even when they reach an advanced condition. Advances in dentistry and treatments that are available have increased survival rates for oral cancers dramatically more than a decade ago. With proper care many oral and oropharyngeal cancers can be prevented altogether by sensible self-care and healthy lifestyle choices. However, this does not mean that you ignore oral cancer screening in Plano, TX, when it is offered during a routine dental exam.

5 Important Tips Before You Take Oral Cancer Screening

Apart from booking an appointment to undergo oral cancer screening from the dentist in Plano, TX it is suggested that you follow the tips mentioned herein, before going for the oral cancer screening to understand how you can reduce your risks of oral cancer. The five tips we suggest are:

1) Stay Away from Tobacco

The longer you have been using tobacco the higher your risk of head and neck cancer. This will be the case even if you have been using smokeless tobacco because either variety has a direct role in causing these cancers. You should stay away from Tobacco in all forms including chewing, smokeless, snuff, and any variety because they all have chemicals that can damage the genes protecting against cancer.

2) Consume Alcohol in Moderation

Consuming alcohol excessively will expose you to a similar risk as smoking because alcohol can play a role in changing the chemistry of the body and breaking down its defenses against cancer. You should certainly be avoiding excessive alcohol and stick with moderation. Combining excessive alcohol with tobacco can compound the effect of the damage these two can cause.

3) Visiting Your Dentist Regularly

Cancers or precancerous lesions are often detected by dentists or dental hygienists. They do so when conducting routine examinations and cleaning and often refer the patient to an ENT specialist or an oncologist. If the specialists confirm the diagnosis they can provide treatment immediately to increase the chances of eliminating cancer.

4) Getting Vaccinated for HPV

HPV 16 has a strong association with oropharyngeal cancers especially those located at the back of the mouth. Oropharyngeal cancers have minimal symptoms and often occur in men in their 40s or 50s. HPV can be prevented easily by getting vaccinated before males become sexually active. Vaccines are now available against two strains of HPV and are therefore recommended for individuals between the ages of 11 to 26.

5) Shielding Your Lips from the Sun

If after following the tips suggested and visiting SS Dental for oral cancer screening in Plano, TX, you will be happy to understand that you have adequate protection in your favor and are not affected by any of the problems discussed in this blog.