There are a lot of conditions out there – from depression to multiple sclerosis – that tend to be more common in women than in men. Oral cancer is one of the conditions that bucks this trend. Male smokers over 45 who drink excessively have a slew of risk factors that make them susceptible to oral cancer. However, not many people are that likely to be diagnosed with it. Many dentists still don’t do oral cancer checks, and those that do sometimes only use a manual check. That’s why it’s so important to know the signs and find a dentist that does a more thorough check to diagnose or clear you of this disease. At Cosmetic Dentists of Houston, we use OralID to perform the thorough check you need.
What Are the Risk Factors?
Smoking is one of the biggest risk factors for oral cancer. Some people have made great strides in reducing how much they smoke or even quitting. Others have switched over to electronic cigarettes to avoid the ingestion of carcinogens. However, it’s not 100% clear whether using e-cigarettes will reduce the risk.
Excess alcohol can quadruple your risk of oral cancer, and if you do both excessively, you’re putting yourself in harm’s way. Last year, actor Michael Douglas was in the spotlight for claiming that his throat cancer was linked to oral sex. It’s true that HPV is thought to be responsible for an increase in the number of oral cancer cases, but he neglected to mention his smoking past, preferring to lean on his reputation as a Romeo!
There’s really nothing romantic about oral cancer, though. If you don’t find it early on, chances of survival are pretty slim. What should you keep an eye out for? The most common symptom is a mouth ulcer. We don’t want this to cause alarm because many people get mouth ulcers that are painless and heal on their own. The biggest thing to remember with oral cancer is that the ulcer WILL NOT heal on its own. If you have an ulcer for more than three weeks, you should see a dentist.
Checks with Dr. Canto
At our Houston dental clinic, we offer free oral cancer screenings to any of our patients so that they don’t have to worry about seeking out a diagnosis. If you are concerned or have any questions, please feel free to schedule an appointment with our dental team!