{"id":3434,"date":"2024-04-04T08:36:00","date_gmt":"2024-04-04T08:36:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gwinnettsmiles.com\/blog\/?p=3434"},"modified":"2024-04-15T20:37:30","modified_gmt":"2024-04-15T20:37:30","slug":"honor-oral-cancer-awareness-month","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gwinnettsmiles.com\/blog\/2024\/04\/04\/honor-oral-cancer-awareness-month\/","title":{"rendered":"How Should You Honor Oral Cancer Awareness Month?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-full is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gwinnettsmiles.com\/blog\/2024\/04\/04\/honor-oral-cancer-awareness-month\/\" class=\"block-image-link\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gwinnettsmiles.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/AdobeStock_413759717__1713209713_54039.jpg\" alt=\"A ribbon illustration that symbolizes Oral Cancer Awareness Month\" class=\"wp-image-3435\" style=\"width:299px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.gwinnettsmiles.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/AdobeStock_413759717__1713209713_54039.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.gwinnettsmiles.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/AdobeStock_413759717__1713209713_54039-300x180.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.gwinnettsmiles.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/AdobeStock_413759717__1713209713_54039-768x461.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Many people see April as a cheery month; it sits in the middle of spring\u2019s blooming flowers and trees. Still, this period isn\u2019t all about sunshine and lollipops. April is also Oral Cancer Awareness Month \u2013 a time to note the dangers of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gwinnettsmiles.com\/oral-cancer-screenings.html\">oral cancer<\/a>. Over these next few weeks, you\u2019d be wise to honor and observe it. Your Lawrenceville dentist will even help out. Here\u2019s a primer on oral cancer\u2019s risk factors and signs, as well as how dentists screen for it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What are Oral Cancer\u2019s Risk Factors?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As you\u2019d expect, oral cancer starts inside your mouth. It occurs when the oral cavity\u2019s squamous cells grow, multiply, and spread over time. Given these traits, the condition\u2019s main risk factors are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Tobacco &amp; Alcohol Use<\/strong> \u2013 Tobacco products contain carcinogens that cause cancer. Worse, drinking alcohol lets those carcinogens further permeate mouth tissues.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Genetics<\/strong> \u2013 In fact, those assigned male at birth are twice as likely to get oral cancer. Having a family history with it also puts you at risk.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Sun Exposure <\/strong>\u2013 Excess time in the sun without sunblock can cause cancer in your lips.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Age<\/strong> \u2013 Because it takes years to grow, most people find they have oral cancer after age 55.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>There\u2019s no way to prevent oral cancer with certainty. Still, managing its risk factors will greatly reduce your risk of getting it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What About its Symptoms?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Often enough, oral cancer\u2019s signs can make it resemble other mouth problems. This disease\u2019s most common symptoms are the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Bleeding sores on your lip or inside your mouth<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Lumps or thick patches in your mouth<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Numbness, pain, or tenderness on your face<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Rough or crusty areas on your lips or gums<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Difficulty chewing or swallowing<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Loose teeth<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Do Dentists Screen for It?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>While you may know its risk factors and signs, you can\u2019t tell if you have oral cancer alone. You\u2019ll need to see your local dentist for a screening. Their training and experience ensure you\u2019ll get a proper diagnosis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A dentist\u2019s oral cancer screening involves a few steps. First, they\u2019ll have you do an oral rinse with a cleansing solution. They\u2019ll then use their tools to examine your mouth more closely. Lastly, the dentist will note and diagnose any problem areas and suggest possible treatment options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Should a dentist diagnose you with oral cancer, don\u2019t panic. They could catch the condition in its early stages \u2013 phases with an 80-90% cure rate. At the very least, they\u2019ll refer you to a highly qualified cancer specialist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>During this Oral Cancer Awareness Month, stay aware of its namesake. You\u2019ll then be ready to prevent and manage such cancers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">About the Practice<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gwinnettsmiles.com\/\">Transforming Smiles<\/a> is based in Lawrenceville, GA. Led by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gwinnettsmiles.com\/dr-bruce-carter.html\">Drs. Bruce Carter<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gwinnettsmiles.com\/meet-dr-zafrani.html\">Shariq Zafrani<\/a>, our practice takes pride in its truly far-reaching dentistry. We offer preventive, cosmetic, and restorative services, as well as emergency dental care. Our office\u2019s team will also screen you for oral cancer at each dental checkup! For more details or to book a visit, you can reach us on <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gwinnettsmiles.com\/contact-us.html\"><em>our website<\/em><\/a><em> or by phone at <strong>(770)-995-7616<\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Many people see April as a cheery month; it sits in the middle of spring\u2019s blooming flowers and trees. Still, this period isn\u2019t all about sunshine and lollipops. April is also Oral Cancer Awareness Month \u2013 a time to note the dangers of oral cancer. Over these next few weeks, you\u2019d be wise to honor and observe it. Your Lawrenceville dentist will even help out. Here\u2019s a primer on oral cancer\u2019s risk factors and signs, as well as how dentists screen for it. <a class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gwinnettsmiles.com\/blog\/2024\/04\/04\/honor-oral-cancer-awareness-month\/\">(Read More)<\/a>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3434","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gwinnettsmiles.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3434","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gwinnettsmiles.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gwinnettsmiles.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gwinnettsmiles.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gwinnettsmiles.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3434"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.gwinnettsmiles.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3434\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3440,"href":"https:\/\/www.gwinnettsmiles.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3434\/revisions\/3440"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gwinnettsmiles.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3434"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gwinnettsmiles.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3434"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gwinnettsmiles.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3434"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}