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10 Deadly Serious Facts About Oral Cancer

Aug 25 • 1 minute read

A person writing the words oral cancer and circling it in red ink.

 

Oral cancer steals many lives each year, often because it wasn't discovered until it was in its later stages. The irony is that oral cancer isn't exceptionally hard for dentists to detect, which means one of the best ways to protect yourself from oral cancer is to schedule regular dental appointments and ask your dentist about oral cancer screenings.

This week on our blog, we're going to share some important facts about oral cancer to remind everyone not to forgo their next dental checkup or oral cancer screening.

  1. According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, about 48,000 people are diagnosed with oral cancer each year.
  2. Oral cancer kills about one person per hour in the United States.
  3. Worldwide, about 450,000 people are diagnosed with oral cancer each year.
  4. Oral cancer is usually discovered after it has metastasized and spotted in another location in the body.
  5. Men experience oral cancer at nearly twice the rate of women.
  6. If you smoke, you're six times more likely to develop oral cancer than someone who doesn't smoke.
  7. About 80% of people who are diagnosed with oral cancer frequently drink alcohol.
  8. If you use smokeless tobacco products such as dip or snuff, you're 50 times more likely to develop oral cancer—50 times!
  9. Excessive sunlight/UV exposure can significantly increase your risk of developing lip cancer.
  10. If detected early, oral cancer has a survival rate of about 90%.

Thanks for Reading!

To lower your risk of oral cancer, conduct a self-exam about once a month. Look for visible signs of persistent sores that don't heal after two weeks and discoloration on your lips, gums, the roof of your mouth, and your tongue. If you're interested in an oral cancer screening, ask your dentist at your next appointment. The American Cancer Society recommends an oral cancer screening every three years if you're over 20, and once a year if you're over 40.

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Family and Cosmetic Dentistry
Creating Beautiful Smiles in Turlock

Drs. Christopher and Anne Thompson offer quality dental implant, family, and cosmetic dentistry services in Turlock, CA. Make us your family dental center today!

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Christopher and Anne Thompson, D.D.S.
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