Oral cancer occurs when cancerous cells grow in the mouth. Oral cancer can develop in any part of the mouth, but it’s most commonly found in the tongue, the floor of the mouth, the gums, the roof of the mouth, and the side and bottom of the mouth.
The most common causes of oral cancer include:
1. Smoking or chewing tobacco
2. Alcohol consumption
3. HPV infection
4. Poor oral hygiene
To lower your risk of oral cancer, avoid alcohol consumption and tobacco use. You should also schedule an appointment with our dentist regularly for dental checkups.
How and why oral cancer develops
The mouth is lined with many different types of cells, and all of them require oxygen to survive. When oral cancer develops, it’s because the cells aren’t getting the oxygen they need. When oral cancer forms, the cells in the mouth grow and divide too quickly, which can result in tumors. Since oral cancer is one of the only types that can develop inside the mouth, it’s incredibly important that patients practice regular oral cancer screenings.
Having certain risk factors doesn’t mean you’ll develop oral cancer. However, it does mean that you should be screened regularly. When your dentist screens you for oral cancer, he or she will thoroughly examine your face, neck, lips, tongue, throat, tissues, and gums. This exam also may include an oral cancer screening light, which can help your dentist spot abnormal tissue in your mouth.
Oral cancer screening methods
At your dental checkups, we will perform an oral cancer screening. This involves visually examining the soft tissues of the mouth, lips, and gums, as well as feeling for any lumps or irregular tissue. If we find an area of concern, we may refer you to a specialist for further evaluation.
This screening can help your dentist spot cancers early when they’re easier to treat. It may include:
- Oral cancer screening using VELscope technology
- Oral cancer screening using Vizilite technology
With oral cancer, the early stages of the disease don’t often cause pain. In fact, many patients may not notice any symptoms at all. This makes it even more important to get screened regularly.
Oral cancer treatment
Diagnosing oral cancer in its earliest stages increases a patient’s survival rate, especially when cancer hasn’t spread to the lymph nodes.
When caught early, oral cancer is highly curable. The five-year survival rate of oral cancer is around 85 percent. When diagnosed in later stages, the survival rate drops to about 50 percent. The stage the cancer is at at the time of diagnosis often determines the prognosis.
The stages of oral cancer are as follows:
Stage 1 - cancer is localized to the mouth.
Stage 2 - cancer has spread to the lymph nodes of the neck.
Stage 3 - cancer has spread to the lymph nodes behind the jaw.
Stage 4 - cancer has spread to other parts of the body.
To find out more about the dental services offered at our dental practice by Dr. Lindbeck, call (760)-747-3988 or schedule an online consultation. You can also visit Dentist in Escondido, CA at 661 E Grand Ave, Escondido 92025.