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April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month!  This email is a compliment to our blog post this month where you can learn more about oral cancer and preventative measures you can take!

Are you aware that over 100 people are diagnosed with oral cancer every day? More than 25% of these people who are diagnosed will risk severe treatment.

The dental examination completed during your regular hygiene visits is key to finding unusual areas in your mouth, face and neck. It is easier than ever to detect oral cancer earlier.

Griswold Dental Associates uses a diagnostic tool that can show changes in cells before those changes become visible to the eye. Partnered with ViziLite™, your dental examination can help you in the early detection of oral cancer.

Your daily habits may be raising your risk factors for oral cancer. You may already know that smoking/smokeless tobacco products will increase your chances of oral cancer; but did you know that heavy alcohol use combined with smoking can greatly increase that risk?

Inform your dental professional of any lip lesions or irritations that do not go away. Prolonged exposure to the sun increases the risk of lip cancer.

With that in mind, remember that oral cancers can occur in people who do not smoke and have no other known risk factors. People affected with the Human Papillomavirus are also at risk.

The dental oral examination is a tour of your entire oral cavity. Time is spent looking at your lips, gums, tongue, floor of your mouth, inside cheeks and roof of your mouth.

What are we looking for?  Red or white patches; a sore that doesn't heal or bleeds easily; a thick or hard spot or a lump. It is also important that you tell your dental professional if you have any problems chewing, swallowing or moving your tongue or jaw.

If a suspicious-looking site is found, a brush test or biopsy may be indicated for further evaluation.

Regular dental hygiene visits is key, including an oral cancer screening such as ViziLite™. This tool is essential in the early detection of pre-cancerous and cancerous conditions.

Keeping your risk factors low, as well as finding and removing abnormal cells early, can be effective in reducing your risk of oral cancer. If you do smoke, or use smokeless tobacco products, today is a good day to call your family doctor and ask for help to stop smoking and reduce your risk.

Eat healthy! Studies show that eating a healthy diet high in fruits and vegetables can reduce your risk for many types of cancer. Many foods are shown to help prevent cancer-such as: green tea, blueberries and whole grains. Incorporating good food choices into your diet may reduce your chances of being diagnosed with an oral cancer.