Oral Cancer Screenings – Getting Best Oral Health Care Services in Snellville

by Allen Rose Doctor

Oral cancer screenings means testing people for early signs of cancer before it has any symptoms. This oral screening can be performed by the highly experienced dentist when you go for routine dental visit. To detect the signs of mouth cancer some dentists recommend additional tests to identify the root cause problem or area of the abnormal cells in the mouth of the patient.

Types of Oral cancer

Gums
Lips
Tongue
Inside lining of the cheeks
Roof of the mouth
Far-back section of the tongue
Floor of the mouth
Hard and soft palate

Risk factors

There are numerous risk factors which may increase the chances of having oral cancer which are cited below in points.

Age factor
Excessive consumption of Alcoholic beverages
Use of Tobacco, either in the form of cigar, cigarette and pipes or smokeless chewing tobacco.
Immunosuppressive drugs
Persistent viral infection like HPV16
Prolonged sun exposure (lip cancer)
Poor nutrition
Radiation exposure
Family history

Symptoms of oral cancer

Red and white patches in the mouth and on lips
Pain tenderness or numbness in mouth or lips
Chronic sore throat
Sores on the face, neck and mouth that do not heal easily
Suspicious lumps found by palpating the mouth, neck and jaw
Hoarseness
Ear pain
Neck mass
Coughing up blood
Difficulty while chewing, swallowing, speaking and moving tongue or jaws
Dramatic weight loss
Unable to wear dentures

How to diagnose?

Dental experts diagnose Oral Cancer Screenings through dental checkup or physical examination which includes closely examining the roof and floor of the mouth, back of the throat, tongue, cheeks and lymph nodes in the mouth. If they find the signs and symptoms of cancer they can recommend tests some of which are mentioned below.

Biopsy
CT or CAT (Computed Axial Tomography) scans
MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scans
PET (Positron Emission Tomography) scans
Endoscopy
Chest and dental X-rays

Prevention Tips

Brush your teeth and tongue twice a day with an extra-soft toothbrush after consuming meal in the morning and at bedtime
Floss your teeth mildly
Use fluoride toothpaste for brushing your teeth
Never exert excessive pressure on your teeth
Brush the teeth with baking soda at least once in a week
Use a tongue scraper
Drink plenty of water in a day
Maintain a healthy diet
Avoid smoking and other tobacco products
Don’t consume excess tea and coffee
Avoid overexposure to the sun and use sunblock on your lips and skin

Getting expert consultation

If you find any signs and symptoms of oral cancer, you can get expert consultation online. There are many dental clinics available in Snellville that offer ideal oral health care services at reasonable price.