21 Sep What’s in your mouth- check for oral cancer

Get your comprehensive mouth examination including oral cancer check at Putney Dental Surgery

Check for oral  cancer signs –

What’s in your mouth ?

You don’t have to be a smoker.

You don’t even have to live an unhealthy lifestyle to be at risk of oral cancer.

The incidence of oral cancer in Australia is increasing. Incidence has steadily increased from 1,885 persons in 1983 to 2,853 in 2006. It affects 48.2 persons per 100,000 population for lip, oral cavity and pharynx cancers.

Oral cancer in Australia account for approximately 2-3% of all cancers, and approximately 1% of deaths from cancer. In 2007, there were 676 deaths from oro-pharyngeal cancer in Australia, with a male to female ratio of 2.8:1.

It is now well established that early detection of oral cancer and potentially malignant oral lesions can improve the clinical outcome for patients.At  Putney Dental Surgery, Dr Patel is  well-trained to identify such lesions. An oral cancer examination, as part of a comprehensive oral examination, takes only a short time.

High risk populations for oral cancer are tobacco and alcohol users aged over 35 years.

Your mouth is home to hundreds of bacteria and fungi, most of which are harmless and present in balanced numbers. When the number of bad bacteria outnumbers the good bacteria, this can lead to disease, infections or viruses. The most common examples of these are ulcers, lumps, swelling, and red and white patches. Your dentist, Dr Patel at Putney Dental Surgery can play a role in the detection, diagnosis and management of these, so regular dental check-ups are important for detecting oral cancer signs

Do you suffer from any of these

• Red or white patches in your mouth
• An ulcer or sore that does not heal and/or bleeds easily
• A blood blister that does not heal A thick or hard spot or lump that may or may not be painful
• A roughened or crusted area or sore
• Numbness anywhere in your mouth Pain and tenderness
• Changes in the way your teeth fit together when you bite down
• Pain when chewing or swallowing Difficulty when swallowing or moving your jaw
• Difficulty moving your tongue
• Changes in your speech such as slurring or lack of clarity Loose teeth and/or sore gums
• Altered taste Swollen lymph glands

Check your mouth regularly for oral cancer signs. We recommend an annual comprehensive check up of your full mouth