From an early age, your parents, guardians, family members, and dental professionals in your life have emphasized the importance of staying on top of your oral health. For most, this comes in the form of brushing and flossing regularly in addition to attending regular dental checkups and cleanings. What you might not be readily aware of, however, is that there is so much more that can negatively influence your oral health, making it important to take additional steps to ensure best practices. In today’s blog, your Leawood, KS dentist describes the need for oral cancer screenings and discusses how we perform yours during your routine checkup.
Why We Screen
It goes without saying that your smile is one of your greatest assets. It is oftentimes one of the first things someone may notice about you, and it helps you perform a range of functional activities such as biting, chewing, or eating. Not only is it important to protect your smile and the different structures it contains, but it is necessary to be aware of the different factors outside of traditional concerns that can cause complications.
One such thing to be on the lookout for is oral cancer. There is often a misconception that only individuals who smoke cigarettes get oral cancer, and while these individuals do experience an even greater likelihood of developing the concern, they are not the only ones susceptible.
Indeed, anyone of any age can develop oral cancer, which is why it is so important you attend regular screenings just in case. Fortunately, this is where our team comes in to help. To learn more about this process and what you can expect, give us a call today.
Part of Your Regular Checkup
As a part of your routine checkup, our team can perform an oral cancer screening. During this process, we take care to check each component of your oral cavity, including your tongue, cheeks, gums, lips, floor of the mouth, roof of the mouth, and back of the throat.
When we check these areas, we are paying mind to noticeable concerns such as rough red or white spots, sores that do not seem to heal, and discoloration of sorts. Contact our team today to set up your next appointment.
Other Things to Make Note of
We mentioned previously that oral cancer can develop at any time and affect any person. In particular, you should take strides to avoid some of the practices that contribute to a greater likelihood of development. These include minimizing your alcohol consumption, ceasing use of tobacco products, and being conscious of how much sun exposure your lips are receiving.
Schedule Your Appointment
Contact Dreem Dentistry in Leawood, KS by calling 913-681-5500 to speak to a member of our team about your oral cancer screening options and schedule your next appointment with our office today.
