Posted on Jan 23, 2015
Regular visits to the
Belmont dentist can do more than give you healthy teeth. They can help save your life. Use this guide to learn more about who is at risk for oral cancer so you can work with your dentist to ensure that you have no signs of the disease:People who regularly use tobacco products or drink alcohol significantly increase their risk for developing oral cancer. If you currently use tobacco or drink a lot of alcohol, you might want to try to quit to lower your risk for this disease. Certain strands of the human papilloma virus (HPV) can also increase one’s risk for oral cancers. Men are twice as likely to get oral cancer as women and it is often seen in patients over 55. Excessive exposure to UV light, bad nutrition, or certain genetic syndromes could also increase one’s risk.If you visit your dentist regularly, you can get routine oral cancer exams. If you do develop the disease, early diagnosis gives you the best chance of beating it.
