For many individuals, the biggest threat to their oral health consists of harmful bacteria eating away at their teeth in a process known as decay. For others, however, a mutation to cells in the mouth poses a much larger threat. Indeed, oral cancer is not a concern that should be taken lightly, and in lieu of its awareness month, your Conroe, TX dentist would like to dedicate today’s blog to discussing how it affects you and what you can do to reduce your chances of developing it.

How It Affects You

While you may be thinking “I don’t smoke tobacco or drink excessively, surely this won’t bother me in any way,” the unfortunate fact of the matter is that it can impact anyone. Indeed, whether you are a child of a young age, a senior adult, or any age in-between, you run the risk of developing this cell mutation.

Oral cancer consists of cell mutation in any area of the oral cavity, including the lips, tongue, throat, cheeks, roof of the mouth, floor of the mouth, and even the gums. What’s more, it can be exacerbated by certain risk factors, including excessive use of tobacco or consumption of alcohol, excessive sun exposure to the lips, having a weakened immune system, and even transmittable through human papillomavirus (HPV).

Additionally, signs and symptoms of this phenomenon include loose teeth, development of a white or red rough patch within the mouth, a lip sore that will not heal, mouth pain, ear pain, difficulty swallowing, painful swallowing, and indications of lumps or other abnormalities. If you suspect you are experiencing one or more of these symptoms, please do not hesitate to reach out to our team today.

What Your Options Are

As of now, there is no proven way to prevent a form of mouth cancer. There are, however, steps that you can take to reduce your risk of developing these concerns. For instance, ceasing use of tobacco or not starting to begin with aids in preventing the occurrence, as tobacco contains chemicals that cause cancer. You can also take steps to reduce alcohol intake, avoid excessive sun exposure, and attend routine dental visits to monitor your health.

Inspection at Your Next Checkup

In addition to the steps listed above, our team offers an oral cancer screening whenever you come in to your 6-month checkup. During this process, we will take care to examine the lips, tongue, cheeks, gums, throat and top and bottom of the mouth for any signs of abnormalities or concerns. Speak to our team to learn how you can set up your screening at your next office visit.

Reach Out to Our Team

For more information about this process or to schedule your appointment with our team, contact The Dental Centre of Conroe in Conroe, TX by calling 936-441-4600 today.