Oral Cancer: Causes, Symptoms, Treatments

November is Mouth Cancer Action Month, so we're providing information about oral cancer, its causes, symptoms, and treatment options. Mouth cancer is one of the fastest-growing cancers in the U.S., but when it's detected and treated early, it has an excellent prognosis. However, it spreads rapidly and is asymptomatic, so you won't know you have it until it has spread. Don't let anomalies develop into mouth cancer. Get them checked as soon as you notice something strange.

What's Meant by Oral Cancer?

Oral cancer, also called mouth cancer, is any cancer that develops in the mouth. It can also appear in the neck or head, although those are less prevalent. Typically, mouth cancer develops in the:

1. Cheeks
2. Gums
3. Lips
4. Salivary glands
5. Tongue

Unfortunately, mouth cancer is typically asymptomatic, so you won't notice it until the disease has spread. For this reason, we urge all our patients who are at least 18 to get an oral cancer screening. The screening doesn't take long. It's painless and non-invasive. Early detection and treatment can make the difference between a relatively simple treatment with an excellent prognosis or a more complicated treatment with a less desirable outcome. If you haven't been screened for oral cancer, then call our Philadelphia office to schedule an appointment.

If you notice any of the following, then call our office without delay:

1. Open sores or ulcers that haven't healed after three weeks
2. Unusual growths or areas of scar-like tissue
3. Swollen areas or lumps in the head, mouth, or neck
4. White and red areas of tissue in the mouth

Although the presence of any of these doesn't indicate that you have oral cancer, they're anomalies that shouldn't be ignored, so make an appointment promptly.

How Is Oral Cancer Diagnosed?

Your dentist will palpate the soft tissues of your mouth, such as the cheeks, lips, tongue, salivary glands, and other areas as they see fit. Depending on the results, they may order a tissue biopsy or additional testing.

What Treatments Are Used for Mouth Cancer?

Each treatment protocol is unique to the individual because no two cases are identical. Factors that will determine the course of treatment include the age and extent of the cancer, whether it's isolated or has metastasized, the type of cancer, and your overall health. Your treatment team will consist of your general dentist, an oncologist, and perhaps a maxillofacial dentist, depending on the scope of the treatment. Treatment regimens can be as simple as removing the cancerous tissues or as complex as one or more rounds of radiation and chemotherapy that may also include reconstructive surgery. The earlier mouth cancer is diagnosed and treated, the better the prognosis and the less invasive the treatment.

What Causes Oral Cancer?

Although oral cancer can be genetic, such as if a first-degree relative has or had it, it usually appears as the result of lifestyle habits. A first-degree relative is a parent, child, or sibling. Lifestyle habits that can increase your risk factor for developing oral cancer include:

1. Age: If you're 45 or older
2. Alcohol: Drinking 21 or more alcoholic drinks weekly or three or more daily can increase your risk factor for mouth cancer
3. Diet: A poor diet can increase your risk factor
4. Gender: If you were born male, because males have a higher incidence of mouth cancer than those who were born female
5. Activities: Spending lots of time in the sun without sun protection increases your risk
6. Personal behaviors: Some intimate activities have been linked to oral cancer due to presence of the HPV virus
7. Tobacco: Using any type of tobacco product increases your risk factor

Although some of these are unchangeable, some are not. Changing those that are changeable may decrease the impact of those you can't change, so change what you can and don't stress over the others.

How Is Oral Cancer Prevented?

Unless you have a genetic tendency to develop it, you can take steps to reduce your risk factors by taking the following steps:

1. If you use tobacco products, quit. Those who use tobacco products have a much higher risk factor, and it doesn't matter whether you smoke cigarettes, vape, dip, chew, or use a pipe.
2. If you drink to excess, get help and learn other ways to socialize and relax. However, quitting cold turkey can be life-threatening, depending on the extent to which you drink and for how long you've done it. If you habitually drink to excess, you might consider hiring a professional to help you.
3. Alcohol irritates the sensitive tissues in the cheeks, making them more liable to absorb toxins from tobacco products. The bloodstream carries the toxins throughout the body, which makes you more liable to other types of diseases. Those who drink and smoke have a sixfold increased risk of developing mouth cancer over those who do neither.
4. Wear sun protection when you'll be outdoors for an extended time.
5. Minimize risky behaviors and wear protection.
6. Eat a healthy diet with fruits, vegetables, and omega-3 fatty acids, and keep your body hydrated.
7. Get a regular dental exam and an oral cancer screening.

There's no guarantee that you will or won't get oral cancer, but avoiding the risk factors you can control can greatly minimize the impact of those you can't control. The best prevention is a regular dental exam and a healthy lifestyle. 

When you increase your oral health, you also improve your physical health since the two are inextricably linked. So take advantage of Mouth Cancer Action Month to make sure that both your mouth and your body are as healthy as possible.

Do You Need to Schedule an Exam?

If you need to schedule an oral cancer screening or if it's time for your annual exam and teeth cleaning, call Dental Solutions at , and we can schedule an appointment with one of the best dentists in the area. We have an excellent reputation in the Philadelphia area, and we're sure you'll be happy with the service you receive.

Remember, early detection and treatment provide the best prognosis, so call our Philadelphia office without delay to schedule your appointment.

We look forward to speaking with you and working with you.