Mouth Cancer Detection

Cancer is never a welcome disease. But of all cancers, oral cancer has one of the highest mortality rates. Why? Because it’s both painless and sneaky in the early stages, often going undetected until it’s advanced beyond what can be effectively battled by cancer treatments.

Doctor Warren L. Spencer of Central Florida explains that there are five common risk factors that correlate strongly with oral cancer. If you use any kind of tobacco product-chewing it, dipping snuff, smoking cigarettes, smoking cigars, or smoking a pipe, your chances of developing cancer are significantly higher than people who do not expose their mouth to tobacco. In fact, 80-90% of oral cancers are found in people who take part in these activities. You’re also at a higher risk for oral cancer if you consume frequent or large quantities of alcohol. And what’s worse, when alcohol and tobacco are used together, the risk is not only doubled, but compounded. Doctor Spencer explains that in either case, you can improve your chances of long term health by simply never using these products, or quitting now if you do use them.

To find more information on oral cancer and other dental procedures go to http://www.drspencerdental.com/

Doctor Spencer whose patients come from the Orlando, Lake Mary, Longwood and Altamonte Springs area warns that you may also be at risk for oral cancer if your lips are constantly exposed to sunlight, if you have a chronic habit of lip or cheek biting, or if you wear poorly fitting dentures. These factors seem to cause problems because of their tendency to produce various types of oral sores, often appearing as small, whitish patches inside the mouth or on the lips. While scientists don’t fully understand why these patches or leukoplakia form, they believe that these areas of chronic irritation may begin to experience excessive cell growth, leading to cancer.

As the population ages and the baby boomers become more virulent in protecting their health they need to be careful to check for warning signs for oral cancer. And while you can stay alert to these ‘red flags’ on your own, Altamonte Springs cosmetic and family dentist Dr. Spencer is meticulous about checking every aspect of your lips, mouth, gums, tongue and other oral tissues during your regular check-ups. Dr. Spencer looks for whitish patches, persistent mouth sores, tissue color changes, spots of pain, tenderness, or numbness, or any changes in your bite over time.

Doctor Spencer who is happily accepting new patients in his Altamonte Springs practice invites everyone to come in early and often for check ups to guard not only against tooth decay and gum disease but more serious conditions that are best treated when found early.