Do you know? “There are approximately 2500 new cases of oral and pharyngeal cancer registered in Australia each year and the life-time risk of developing oral cancer is approximately 1 in 90 for men and 1 in 200 for women, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare” Oral cancer develops within the oral cavity and look likes mouth sores that don’t go away. It can become a life-threatening health ailment if not diagnosed and treated at the early stages.
What Is Oral Cancer?
Cancer is the term given to a collection of related diseases. In short, in all types of cancer, including oral cancer, some of the cells in the body begin to multiply without stopping and spread into surrounding tissues, and the reason is unknown. However, dental treatments have come a long way and it is possible to treat and cure oral cancer if caught early.
It can occur anywhere in your mouth, including inside the cheeks, mouth, on the surface of the tongue, in the gums, in the necks, and even in the salivary glands. If caught early, oral cancer can be treated and cured. The Baulkham Hills dentist is the right person to determine whether you have oral cancer or not.
Oral cancer can occur anywhere in your mouth, the lips, inside the cheeks, on the surface of the tongue, in the gums, and in the salivary glands.
What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Oral Cancer?
- Loose teeth with no dental cause
- Ear and mouth pain
- Difficulty with chewing and swallowing
- Pain and numbness anywhere in your mouth
- The feeling of an object in your throat
- Sores that won’t go away
- Lumps or thick patches anywhere in your mouth
- Unexplained bleeding in the mouth
- A white or reddish patch the inside of your mouth
As early detection is crucial in overcoming oral cancer, you should visit the Baulkham Hills dental clinic as early as possible if you experience any of these symptoms.
What Causes Oral Cancer?
- Smoking
Smoking is one of the primary causes of oral cancer. In fact, cigarette smokers are six times more likely to develop oral cancer than those who do not smoke at all. Smoking is injurious to both oral and overall health. You better quit smoking today. If you can’t quit smoking, get help from the dentist.
- Chewing tobacco
People who chew tobacco and use snip and duff are more likely to develop oral cancer than smokers.
- Alcohol
Too much of anything is poisonous. Excessive drinking can significantly increase the risk of developing oral cancer. Alcoholics who are also smokers are 100 X times likely to develop cancer than those who do not drink or smoke.
How Is Oral Cancer Treated?
Oral cancer is treated the same way any other type of cancer is treated. The treatment involves various procedures, including removing the lump, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy to destroy the cancer cells. However, your dentist is the right person to determine which treatment is beneficial for you.
Need an appointment with our dentist? In case of any dental emergency, our emergency dentist Baulkham Hills is just a call away. Please call us for further queries.