An Ontario dental clinic has urged all Canadians to ask their dentists for an oral cancer screening, as it could save their lives.
Thornhill Dental said that more than 4,000 Canadians were diagnosed with oral cancer every year and many die due to late detection, so an oral cancer screen at the dentist could be life-saving.
A spokesperson from Thornhill Dental said: “Oral cancer can be treated really easily if it is detected early enough through oral cancer screening. If people have a regular dental check-up, then we have the experience, knowledge and skills to be able to spot unusual signs.”
Oral cancer starts when abnormal cells grow abnormally and it could be any part of the mouth – the lips, tongue, salivary glands and the palate.
There are several signs that there might be something wrong and Thornhill Dental’s specialists have urged their patients to look out for:
- Sores on the lips that bleed and don’t heal in a couple of weeks
- Red or white spots or sores in the mouth or on the lips
- A lump in the mouth or neck that might feel thicker than other areas around it
- Pain or tenderness anywhere in the mouth
- Any difficulty with basic eating activity, like chewing or swallowing
- Difficulty speaking or moving the jaw or tongue
- Any loose teeth
The spokesman from Thornhill Dental added: “Many of these symptoms may have other causes, but it is always good to be aware and get things checked out. Our oral cancer screenings are quick and painless. We will start with assessing a patient’s medical history. We will then do a physical assessment of the gums, cheeks, below the tongue, the back of the mouth and the throat. We will also assess the areas close by, including the neck, salivary glands, the jaw and the ear.
“We will also feel the tissue of the inside of the mouth to locate any abnormalities. If the dentist does detect anything unusual, then they can take a swab and collect the cells from the suspect area and send them off to a laboratory for analysis,” he added.
Thornhill Dental’s dentists will also help its patients to minimize the risks of oral cancer by offering the following advice – avoiding tobacco, drinking alcohol in moderation, eating a healthy and balance diet and wearing sunscreen.
The clinic’s dentists have also urged patients to be aware of any changes to their mouth by regularly examining the surface of their lips, looking inside both cheeks, sticking their tongues out and examining all sides of the tongue, looking under the tongue and getting a flashlight to look at the gums and the back of the throat for any changes.
About Thornhill Dental
Thornhill Dental offers its patients a full-service dental practice in the Thornhill area of Ontario. The clinic’s dentists offer general dental services from checkups, cleaning and root canal operations to cosmetic dentistry like teeth whitening and veneers.
Media Contact
Company Name: Dental Office Thornhill
Contact Person: Media Relations
Email: Send Email
Phone: 905-771-8100
Address:180 Steeles Ave W
City: Thornhill
State: Ontario L4J 2L1
Country: Canada
Website: https://thornhilldental.ca/