General Dentistry in Redwood City, CA

Oral cancer is a serious condition when it comes to your oral health. It is cancer that develops in the oral cavity, which includes the soft tissues of the mouth, the anterior part of the mouth, and the throat area. Studies say that over 30,000 cases of oral cancer are diagnosed every year in the USA, out of which 7000 patients fail to beat cancer. However, treating oral cancer in its early stages gives patients a better chance of getting it cured.

Oral cancer mostly begins with the squamous cells, which line the inner walls of the mouth, lips, and tongue. It can affect the lips, salivary glands, tongue, gums, the floor of the mouth, the palate, the inner walls of the cheeks, tonsils, uvula, throat, face, etc.

What are the common symptoms of oral cancer?

• Sores in the mouth that don't heal
• Bleeding soft tissues, such as the gums, tongue, inner lining, etc.
• A thick lump in the mouth, indicating the cancer cells
• Persistent bad breath
• Numbness in the tongue and lips
• Difficulty in chewing and swallowing food
• Change in the voice in case of cancer in the throat, i.e., coarse voice
• Red or white patches in the mouth, mostly on the inner lining of the mouth.

How do we prevent the onset of oral cancer?

Professional care and observation: During your biannual dental check-up, the Family dentist in Redwood City, CA would check for any signs of oral cancer. The first step in the examination would be visual observation. The dentist would check for any sores and ulcers in the mouth. Also, if you have any bleeding tissues, they would be carefully examined. As an advanced method of screening for oral cancer, laser treatment can be used. This allows the dentist to look for signs in the underlying tissues, which aren't visible to the naked eye.

If any abnormalities are apparent, then the dentist would create a suitable treatment plan for you. But, if the tissues do not respond to the treatment, then a biopsy would be recommended. This would give the dentist a better idea of the lesion and if it's cancer or not.

Personal observation: You can also look for signs of oral cancer at home. Open your mouth wide and look for red or white patches on or under the tongue, the inner lining or back of the mouth, the palate, and gums. Sometimes, they may bleed as well. In that case, visiting a dentist would be necessary to get a professional opinion.

Changes in your lifestyle: In most cases, oral cancer is either caused by excessive smoking or chewing of tobacco. The carcinogens present in them would infect the tissues of the mouth. Sometimes, excessive consumption of alcohol can also cause oral cancer. Quitting smoking may reduce the lesions and sores in the mouth.

In case oral cancer hasn't been stopped in the primary stages itself, treatment options such as excision, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy may be used to treat cancer.

To know more about oral cancer screening, please schedule an online appointment with our dentists or call us at (650) 780-9439, and we will be happy to help. We also serve areas of Redwood City, Menlo Park, Atherton, and Foster City.