Oral Cancer Screening in Burlington, ON

Early cancer detection for the mouth, lips, tongue or throat. Learn the signs and understand your risks.

The Signs And Symptoms Of Oral Cancer

Oral cancer is characterized from abnormal cell growth in the mouth, lips, tongue or throat. With early detection, oral cancers have a high rate of successful treatment. The people at the greatest risk for oral cancers are those over the age of 45 but regardless of your age, you should opt for oral cancer screening if you’ve experienced any of the following symptoms:

The risk factors for oral cancer

When it comes to enhancing or restoring your teeth, there’s a plethora of options to choose from. The ideal choice hinges on your unique needs. During your consultation, we’re eager to guide you through all available alternatives, detailing the advantages and drawbacks of each, to facilitate your informed decision. Here, however, we outline some notable perks of dental bonding:
Smoking or consuming tobacco products such as cigarettes, cigars and chewing tobacco
Heavy or moderately heavy consumption of alcohol (especially combined with tobacco)
Possibility of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection of the mouth.
Excessive exposure to the sun; a lifestyle that includes lots of sun exposure.
A poor diet or poor eating habits.
Family history of oral cancer.
Oral cancer is more common in men than in women.
A history of leukoplakia (a thick, whitish-colour patch that develops inside the mouth)

Prevention, Detection And Treatment Of Oral Cancer

Treatment will be planned on a case by case basis and will heavily depend on the severity, type and location of the suspected cancer.

If you have any of the risk factors for oral cancer it’s a good idea to ask for an oral cancer screening at your regular dental exam. If you have discovered an unusually coloured or textured patch in your mouth or a lump or suspicious sore you’re encouraged to schedule an appointment to get it checked out.

Your dentist will examine your lips and the inside of your mouth including your cheeks, gums and all sides of your tongue. They will also carefully feel around for any lumps or unusual textures. The dentist may also feel your face, jaw, throat and neck for unusual lumps or tenderness.

Wash your hands with warm soapy water. In front of your bathroom mirror, you’ll want to examine the roof of your mouth, your lips, tongue and gums. Pull your top lip up and bottom lip down to see behind them. You may use a piece of gauze or a cotton pad to help you grip your tongue to check the sides and underside. Do your best to look at your gums, and use your fingers to feel the insides of your mouth. You’re looking and feeling for colour changes, lumps and bumps, unusual textures or tenderness. Let your dentist know if you have any sores that have not healed after two weeks.

Small, usually painless, flat patches that may appear red, white, gray or yellow with red edges. These small patches can affect any area of the mouth including the lips, gums, cheeks, tongue and the roof of the mouth. As a good rule of thumb, it’s a good idea to have anything that looks or feels unusual checked out by your doctor or dentist.

Contact Us Today to schedule an initial consultation & exam

During your consultation, we will evaluate your whole mouth, including your teeth, gums, soft tissues, and bite. Our goal is to understand your oral health and aesthetics, and what you want to achieve, to plan your treatment accordingly.

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