A Mouthful: Oral Cancer Screening

Oral cancer screening involves an examination by a dentist to look for early signs of cancer or precancerous conditions in the mouth before any symptoms overtly appear. It seeks to identify mouth cancer early when there is a greater chance for a cure. Screenings may be done during a regular check-up appointment but some dentists may need additional tests to help identify areas of abnormal cells in the mouth.

During a screening, the dentist would physically examine the mouth from the outside to the inside, including the gums and cheeks, the floor of the mouth, underneath the tongue, and the roof of the mouth. The dentist would check the inside of the patient’s mouth for lumps, lesions, or any abnormalities. Additional tests can involve rinsing the mouth with a special blue dye that abnormal cells would take in and make them reveal themselves by appearing blue, or shining a specialized light in the mouth and identifying tissue that appears white, indicating abnormality.

It is advised to have such screenings every six months to make sure that any precancerous lesions that could lead to mouth cancer will be detected early and nipped in the bud. It is also vital for individuals to take care of their oral and dental health via good hygiene habits to lessen the chances of even making them prone to oral cancer.