November marks Mouth Cancer Action Month, which aims to raise awareness on mouth cancer and make a difference by saving thousands of lives through early detection and prevention.
At Warnervale Dental we are all about protecting your smile for life and we thought it was opportune to discuss mouth cancer as many people know very little about it but is actually more common than you may think.
Every day, at least three Australians are being diagnosed with oral cancer. Survival rates for oral cancer remain low despite advances in treatment and this can be attributed to late detection.
Recognising the risk factors and signs of mouth cancer is vital to better prognosis and outcomes.
What is Mouth Cancer?
Mouth cancer, also known as oral cancer or cancer of the oral cavity is often used to describe a number of cancers that start in the region of the mouth. These most commonly occur on the lips, tongue and floor of the mouth but can also start in the cheeks, gums, roof of the mouth, tonsils, and salivary glands.
Mouth cancer can affect anybody and upon early detection most oral cancers can be treated. It is when we disregard tell-tale signs or neglect our mouths and do not attend regular check-ups that we can run into some trouble.
How to spot mouth cancer
By spotting mouth cancer early, we have a much better chance of beating it.
With early diagnosis, the chances of surviving mouth cancer are nine out of ten – those odds are pretty good, and that’s why knowing what to look out for is so important.
Sadly, far too many mouth cancers are not spotted early enough.
During Mouth Cancer Action Month, we are helping to promote the message ‘if in doubt, get checked out’. We encourage everybody to be mouth aware and pay close attention to what’s going on inside the mouth.
Most importantly, if you notice anything out of the ordinary, it is essential that you tell your dentist or doctor immediately.
Mouth cancer can strike in a number of places including lips, tongue, gums, and cheeks.
Be Mouthaware- look out for the following:
- Ulcers which do not heal within 3 days
- Red and white patches in the mouth
- Lumps or swellings in the mouth or head and neck area
If you are experiencing any of the above, it is important to visit your dentist. Are you a Central Coast local? If so, we’ve got you covered right here at Warnervale Dental.
Early detection is crucial, so if in doubt get checked out!
Don’t delay, book an appointment today!