Oral Cancer on the Rise?

In my dental office, we screen all our patients for oral cancer every time they come in for their cleaning. Some people may think that’s too frequent but with oral cancer on the rise, I disagree.

In the last 10 years, oral cancer rates have gone up 33%!!! The most common things that contribute to oral cancer are smoking, excessive drinking, and not getting enough fruits and vegetables. Another great reason to juice 🙂
But recently, research has found a link between the HPV infection and oral cancer. Up to eight out of 10 people will be infected with HPV at some point in their lives. So the infection is extremely common, but although there are over a hundred types of HPV, only thirteen are linked to cancer.  In many cases the body’s natural defences will fight off the infection without the person ever knowing. But in some cases the infection persists, triggering a series of events that can lead to cancer.

So screening in ALL our patients is critical for early detection and treatment. The sooner we catch it, the less invasive the treatment.  If we see any signs of possible cancer, we will refer you for a biopsy and treatment if needed.  Oral Cancer is treated like any other cancer and if caught early, it is much easier to treat.  If left untreated, it could even result in death.

So the next time you have your cleaning at our office, don’t worry, a detailed check of your tongue, cheeks, throat and neck could save your life.  Call us at 905-338-6684 if you have any questions.