When you visit the dentist in Soho at PS Dental Care, there are a number of checks that we will perform to ensure that your mouth remains healthy. Many problems with your oral health can have an impact on the rest of your body and some are very serious. Oral cancer is one of these and we looks for any signs that there is something that we need to take a closer look at.
What signs will your dentist be looking for?
There are a number of common symptoms of oral cancer. You may see one or a combination of these. Most of them can also have a benign cause as well so, if you see any of the following, do not panic but you should see your dentist straight away for a check-up:
Jaw pain
Loose teeth
A sore that does not heal
A persistent sore throat
Difficulty swallowing or chewing
Unexplained weight loss
Bleeding or numbness
Red or white patches around the lining of the mouth.
What can you do to reduce your risks?
Ultimately, you are responsible for your oral health. The work that your dentist does is supportive of the care you give yourself. There are a number of things that you can do to reduce your risk of experiencing difficult circumstances like late-stage oral cancer. These include:
Regular check-ups – this is so that your dentist in Soho can carry out checks for the symptoms detailed above. As with most cancers, the earlier that oral cancer is detected, the better the prognosis. Visiting the dentist every six months is recommended for most people. If you have issues with your teeth or have higher risk factors for oral cancer, your dentist might recommend more frequent visits;
Lifestyle factors – there are some lifestyle factors that you can limit to reduce your chances of getting cancer. The most obvious of these is smoking or otherwise using tobacco products. At PS Dental Care, we can provide you with guidance on quitting and point you in the direction of other resources that can help. Not only does quitting tobacco use reduce your chances of getting oral cancer, it is also likely to improve your overall oral health.