As April shines a spotlight on Oral Cancer Awareness Month, it’s the perfect opportunity to arm yourself with life-saving knowledge about this silent threat. Oral cancer in Frisco, TX touches the lives of neighbors and friends yearly, yet with the right information and routine dental visits, you can dramatically improve your chances of staying cancer-free.

Call Dossett Dental at 214-740-6082 to make an appointment, including an oral cancer exam. 

Understanding Mouth Cancer

When abnormal cells grow out of control in your mouth’s tissues, oral cancer develops. These dangerous cells can appear anywhere in your oral cavity—from your lips and tongue to the inside of your cheeks, beneath your tongue, on the roof of your mouth, or deep in your throat. 

Catching these changes in their earliest stages significantly boosts treatment success, making awareness your first line of defense.

Spotting the Early Warning Signals

Your mouth sometimes sends distress signals when something’s not right. Be on the lookout for these important warning flags:

  • Stubborn mouth sores that linger beyond two weeks
  • Unusual colored patches (white or red) appearing on oral tissues
  • Mysterious bumps or thickened areas in your mouth tissue
  • Pain when you swallow or talk
  • Numbness in parts of your mouth
  • A sore throat that doesn’t go away
  • Feeling like something is stuck in your throat

What Increases Your Risk

Several things can make oral cancer more likely. 

Using tobacco products — whether smoking or chewing — puts you at much higher risk. Drinking alcohol heavily also increases your chances, especially if you use tobacco too.

Other risk factors include getting too much sun on your lips, having HPV (a common virus), having family members who’ve had cancer, not eating enough fruits and vegetables, and having a weak immune system.

How To Protect Yourself

The good news is that you can take steps to lower your risk. Stay away from all tobacco products and limit how much alcohol you drink. 

When you’re outside, use lip balm with sunscreen. Eat plenty of colorful fruits and vegetables. Brush and floss regularly. If you’re a parent, talk to your doctor about the HPV vaccine for your children.

And don’t skip your dental checkups. They’re one of the best ways to catch problems early.

Your dentist does more than just clean your teeth. During regular visits, they check your entire mouth for any signs of cancer. These quick exams can spot problems before you notice them yourself.

Many people don’t realize that dentists are often the first to find signs of oral cancer, particularly in communities like Frisco, where we are trained to spot early warning signs.

Getting Better

When caught early, oral cancer can often be treated successfully. Treatments might include surgery to remove the cancer, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, special targeted medications, or therapy to help with speaking and swallowing after treatment.

Take Action Today

If you live near us and want to learn more about oral cancer in Frisco, TX, remember that prevention and early detection are your best protection. Regular dental visits and knowing what unusual changes to look for can help keep you safe.

Now is a great time to take care of your mouth health. Call Dossett Dental today to schedule your checkup. Our team will carefully check your mouth during your regular visit, giving you peace of mind and catching any problems early when they’re easiest to treat.

To schedule a visit, call 214-740-6082 or schedule online. To visit one of our other locations, call 817-270-9217 in Hurst, TX or 972-787-1869 in McKinney, TX.