Oral cancer can spread quickly but is very treatable when diagnosed early. For this reason, Dr. Beth C. Dunsmoor includes a thorough oral cancer screening in every patient examination. The exam is quick and painless! Your oral cancer screening will include a comprehensive evaluation of your mouth, throat, lips, gums and tongue. Potential symptoms include:
- Difficulty swallowing or chewing
- Persistent sore throat with no other apparent symptoms
- Swelling or lumps around your mouth
- Mouth sores that will not heal
- Spontaneous bleeding in your mouth
- Difficulty moving the jaw or tongue
- White or red patches in your mouth
- Persistent feeling of something caught at the back of your throat
- Sudden unexplained weight loss
- Pain in the ear without hearing loss
- Numbness in the tongue
Should you experience any of these symptoms consistently for more than a week, contact us for an evaluation.
Risk factors for oral cancer include:
- Tobacco and alcohol use
- HPV infection
- Being male (men have higher rates of oral cancer)
- Excessive sun exposure
- GERD (reflux)
- Unhealthy diet
- Age — most cancers appear after age 40, and risk increases with age
We are dedicated to educating our patients on the risks of oral cancer and screening them to assure early diagnosis if cancer is present. Contact our office at (919) 303-8999 today to learn more and schedule an oral cancer screening in Cary, North Carolina, with our dentist.