When you think of all the possible cancers you could get, is oral cancer one of them? It should be–and you should take oral cancer screenings as seriously as you do all of your other screenings. Here’s why: close to 50,000 Americans are diagnosed with oral cancer every year and the death rate is surprisingly high. That’s not because it is hard to diagnose. It’s because it is so seldom diagnosed until its late stages. Early-stage oral cancer often presents and thrives without producing pain or symptoms that are easily recognized unless discovered by a trained professional. Worse, it can spread to other parts of your body and become nearly impossible to treat. Here’s the good news. When oral cancer is discovered early by your Bend general dentist, it is very treatable and can be eradicated in up to 90% of cases. Your team at Ponderosa Dental Center performs an oral cancer screening for every new patient and at every hygiene visit. It’s also a good idea to be aware of your own oral health and scan yourself regularly for:

• Tenderness or pain in your mouth or lips
• Difficulty swallowing
• Difficulty or pain when moving your tongue or jaw or when opening your mouth
• Unexplained oral numbness
• Swelling
• Spots, patches, or ulcers that remain for two weeks or more
• Discolored areas of your mouth, especially those that are multicolored such as red and white
• Excessive saliva production

If you notice any of these symptoms, especially in combination, please call us right away. It could save your life!