5 Critical Oral Cancer Facts

oral cancer dental checkup Kelowna

At Love Your Smile in Kelowna, we want to see our patients at least twice a year for a checkup and cleaning. A checkup can give you real peace of mind, especially since every one we do includes an oral cancer screening.

Lung and breast cancer get a lot of public attention, and rightfully so. But there is less awareness of oral cancer, even though it claims thousands of lives in Canada every year.

If you smoke or have contracted HPV, you have a higher risk for developing oral cancer.

Here are five critical things to know about oral (mouth) and oropharyngeal (back of mouth and throat) cancers.

  1. About 80% of men and women with oral cancer use some type of tobacco (cigarettes, chewing tobacco, pipes).
  2. 40% of those who receive late-stage diagnosis of oral cancer pass away within five years. The survival rate for early stage diagnosis is 90%.
  3. In many cases, it is difficult for someone to detect oral and oropharyngeal cancers on their own, because they can produce indistinct symptoms or no symptoms at all. Any abnormality in the mouth or throat, even if small and painless, should be evaluated by a dentist or doctor.
  4. HPV (the most prevalent sexually transmitted disease in the US) is the most common cause of oropharyngeal cancer. Of the many strains of HPV, HPV16 is the one most often linked to oropharyngeal cancer.
  5. Black men have a higher risk of dying from oral cancer than do other ethnicities.

At Love Your Smile in Kelowna, we screen for oral cancer at every checkup. People from Mission, V1Y 8B7, and V1W 3C6 also come to us for general and restorative dentistry. Request an appointment today!

Contact Smileology (Tap to open in Google Maps):

4400 E Highway 20 Ste 101
Niceville, FL 32578

850-897-4488

12273 Emerald Coast Pkwy W Ste 117
Miramar Beach, FL 32550

850-424-7887

4942 US-98 #19
Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459

850-267-0777

1900 South Ferdon Blvd #170
Crestview, FL 32536

850-331-3392

 

ArticleID 7438

Oral Cancer: Early Diagnosis Makes A Big Difference

oral cancer screening Kelowna

Cancer remains one of the scariest diagnoses anyone can get. Oral cancer is especially frightening, because it generally has a higher mortality rate than other cancers. Please keep reading this post from Love Your Smile in Kelowna, because we actually have some encouraging things to say.

The reason that the death rate for oral cancer tends to be higher than in other types is not because of the disease itself, or that it’s hard to diagnose. The reason is that it is often discovered late in its development.

The symptoms for oral cancer don’t always produce any pain or other obvious symptoms. That’s why it tends to be discovered in later stages. The goal of our screenings is to detect any precancerous lesions that could develop into cancer.

When oral cancer is found in its early stages, of course, the chances for successful treatment are at their highest.

If you have any concerns about the state or your oral health, be sure to talk to us about it at Love Your Smile in Kelowna. Patients from Mission, V1Y 8B7, and V1W 3C6 come to our office for preventative and restorative dentistry. Call to schedule an appointment today!

Contact Love Your Smile – Dr. Stephen Malfair:

250-860-8900

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

301-1890 Cooper Rd
Kelowna, British Columbia
V1Y 8B7

ArticleID 7428

Your Kelowna Dentist Does More Than Fill Cavities

Bad Breath Treatment Kelowna

Most people know that they can go to their dentist for toothaches, cleanings, and bleeding gums. And cosmetic dentistry is getting more popular, almost by the day. But the team at Love Your Smile in Kelowna reminds you there are some lesser-known oral concerns that we can help you with.

Dry mouth, technically called xerostomia, is caused by a lack of saliva and can be quite uncomfortable. It also makes dental patients more vulnerable to cavities and gum disease. Common causes of dry mouth are medications and medical conditions. Make sure you bring a list of current medications with you to your appointment.

Bad breath is usually a result of bacteria build-up in the mouth, and regular trips to your dentist can help you keep your mouth clean and the bacteria count within a sweet-smelling range. Do you have good oral hygiene and still have bad breath? Then your dentist can help you discover the source of your halitosis.

We also perform oral cancer checks when we examine patients. Oral cancer is much harder to treat if it is not detected early.

As you can see, we do a whole lot more than fill cavities. And as a science-based profession, we encourage you to get a second opinion if there is even the slightest doubt about something.

At Love Your Smile in Kelowna, it means a lot that you trust us with your dental health. We provide general and cosmetic dentistry, orthodontics, and a full range of other services.

Contact Love Your Smile – Dr. Stephen Malfair:

250-860-8900

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

301-1890 Cooper Rd
Kelowna, British Columbia
V1Y 8B7