Cancer Awareness Month

Posted by admin | Uncategorized | Posted on April 29th, 2010

April is Cancer Awareness month. The news media and Cancer Societies across Canada take this opportunity to make the public more aware about cancer, the advantages of early detection and how prevention can help reduce the risks of different types of cancers.

Very often, these efforts to increase public awareness about different types of cancer ignore cancers of the mouth. Experience shows that most people do not think of the mouth in terms as being a part of their bodies that requires the same kinds of cancer screening as other parts.  While most of us see our physicians for annual check-ups, how often do you see your dentist for an oral cancer screening?

Oral cancer starts in the cells of the mouth (oral cavity). The oral cavity is made up of many parts:

• lips
• tongue
• inside of the lips and cheeks
• hard palate (roof of the mouth)
• floor of the mouth (under the tongue)
• gums and teeth.

The lining of the mouth protects the tissues and organs that make up the oral cavity. And it is exposed to everything you eat, drink and breathe.

The risk of mouth cancer is very real. Also, there are also many other conditions such a heart disease and diabetes can affect the overall health of your mouth.
The next time you exchange smiles with a loved one, a friend or have a smile returned to you as a spontaneous gesture, consider the health of that of smile, and yours. Please take time to enjoy it but also take time to have it checked.