Oral Cancer Screening

At Mint Dental, we don’t just want you to look great. We want you to be healthy from the inside out. With that in mind, we include an oral cancer screening as part of all of our regular exams. Early detection and treatment save lives, and our comprehensive screening is an important aspect of your oral care. It can literally be the difference between life and death.

Symptoms of Oral Cancer

While we will examine you when you are in our office, you should look out for the signs of oral cancer in between visits. If you have one or more of these symptoms, do not panic. They don’t necessarily mean that you have oral cancer, but you do need to make an appointment with one of our dentists immediately. Your dentists will give you a thorough examination and determine what is going on inside of your mouth. It is important that we act quickly, so do not delay in making an appointment.

Common symptoms include:

• Red or white spots in the oral cavity
• A sore that bleeds easily or doesn’t heal
• A lump, thickening, or rough spot
• Pain, tenderness, or numbness in the mouth or lips
• Difficulty chewing, swallowing, speaking, or moving the jaw or tongue

The Screening Process

Even if you don’t have symptoms, you will undergo a quick screening we use to detect cancerous and precancerous conditions. We begin with a visual examination of the mouth. Then, we feel the tissue of the mouth and throat, checking for abnormalities.

If we find an area of concern, we will collect the cells and send them to the lab for analysis. We can do this with a simple brush test. If the test results come back as atypical or positive, we may recommend a biopsy to determine if it is cancer. We will stay in contact with you throughout the process.

How to Prevent Oral Cancer

Prevention is important in regards to oral cancer. We recommend getting yearly screenings from Mint Dental. There are also some lifestyle changes you can make to reduce your risk of getting oral cancer.

• Avoid all tobacco products and only drink alcohol in moderation. These two simple lifestyle changes significantly reduce your chances of getting oral cancer.
• You should also eat a healthy, balanced diet. Eat your fruits and vegetables and avoid fatty and processed foods.
• Avoid your exposure to UV rays and wear sunscreen on your lips. Protect the rest of your skin as well.

Even if you take preventive measures, you might still end up with oral cancer. That is why you need Mint Dental on your side. Our team strives to make sure that every patient gets state-of-the-art care. We take a holistic approach to dental care, ensuring that each patient is healthy from the inside out.