Dentists always advise patients that oral health should not be compromised. Unfortunately, the majority of people do not take this simple practice seriously. Some people do not brush their teeth, while others brush their teeth only once instead of twice daily. Most people also do not visit dentists for dental check-ups. Conditions like bad breath, cavities, and periodontal disease are often associated with poor oral health. Poor oral health can even cause more severe dental conditions like oral cancer.
Oral Cancer Explained
Body cells can grow, increase in number, and die. Generally, a cancer cell is a cell that does not do what it is designed to do. It becomes abnormal. Oral cancer is a disease that develops when some mouth cells become abnormal and start to grow and spread. The abnormal cells can attack the healthy cells, damaging the tissues around them.
The mouth is also known as the oral cavity. It consists of the outside and inside of a person’s lips, gums, teeth, and cheeks. The oral cavity also encompasses the roof of the mouth, the bottom of the mouth, and the tongue in the mouth’s central part. Oral cancers can develop in three main areas: the tongue, inside the mouth, and on the lips.
Types of Oral Cancers
The common areas where oral cancer develops include:
- Hard and soft palate.
- The floor of the mouth.
- Gums.
- The inner lining of the cheek.
- Tongue.
- Lips.
A dentist is often the first person to notice the symptoms of oral cancer. Going for biannual dental checkups can help your dentist assess your mouth’s health status.
Risk Factors For Developing Oral Cancer
Tobacco use is one of the most significant risk factors for oral cancer. This includes chewing tobacco, as well as smoking pipes, cigars, and cigarettes. You can be at a greater risk of suffering from oral cancer if you consume large amounts of tobacco and alcohol. Your chances of suffering oral cancer are even higher if you use both tobacco and alcohol regularly. The other predisposing factors of oral cancer include:
- Neglecting your oral health.
- Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection.
- Being male.
- Genetic syndromes.
- Poor nutrition.
- A weakened immune system.
- A family history of other types of cancer.
- A prior diagnosis of oral cancer.
- Chronic facial sun exposure.
Men are likely two times more likely to suffer oral cancer than women.
Symptoms of Oral Cancer
How can you know that you have oral cancer?
In most cases, oral cancer will not present visible symptoms. Usually, most people learn that they have oral cancer during dental checkups. In most cases, the tumor portrays signs at an advanced stage. Therefore, regular dental checkups can help you arrest oral cancer at its early stages. The common signs of oral cancer include:
- Experiencing pain on the tongue.
- Stiffness or jaw pain.
- A sore throat.
- White, red and white, or red patches on or in your mouth or lips.
- Neck, face, chin, or lower lip numbness.
- Unexplained loss of weight.
- An earache that does not go away.
- A lump in your neck.
- Difficulty in wearing dentures.
- Difficulty or pain while swallowing.
- Loose teeth.
- Bleeding from your mouth.
- A growth or mass anywhere in your mouth.
- A sore on your mouth or lip that does not heal.
Some signs, like an earache or a sore throat, can indicate other conditions. If you notice any of the above signs, particularly if they do not go away or you have more than one at a time, you should visit your dentist as soon as possible.
Diagnosis Of Oral Cancer
First, your dentist can carry out a physical assessment on you. The assessment can include:
- Close evaluation of the lymph nodes in your neck.
- Evaluation of the back of your tongue, throat, and cheeks.
- Close examination of the roof and floor of your mouth.
If your dentist cannot determine the cause of your symptoms, you might be referred to an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist.
Your doctor can carry out a brush or tissue biopsy if the dentist finds any tumors, growth, or suspicious lesions. This procedure is a painless test that involves collecting cells from the cancer by brushing them onto a slide. On the other hand, a tissue biopsy involves taking a piece of the tissue and examining it under a microscope for cancerous cells. Additionally, your doctor can carry out one or more of the following examinations:
- An endoscopy to examine the trachea, windpipe, inner throat, sinuses, and nasal passages.
- MRI scan to show a more precise or accurate image of the neck and head and examine the extent or stage of the cancer.
- A PET scan to determine whether the cancer has spread to lymph nodes or other organs.
- A CT scan to show any tumors in your lungs, neck, throat, mouth, or elsewhere in your body.
- X-ray to determine whether the cancer cells have moved to the lungs, chest, or jaw.
The Stages Of Oral Cancer
Typically, oral cancer has four stages, which include:
Stage One
At this phase, the tumor can be two centimeters or smaller, and the cancer has not moved to the lymph nodes.
Stage Two
At stage two, the tumor can be two to four centimeters. At this point, the cancer cells still have not moved to the lymph nodes.
Stage Three
At this stage, the tumor can exceed four centimeters. It can also be any size and has moved to one lymph node but not to other parts of the body.
Stage Four
At this level, the tumors can be any size, and the cancer cells have moved to the surrounding lymph nodes, tissues, or other body parts. The National Cancer Institute in the United States reveals that the five-year survival rates for pharynx and oral cavity cancers are as follows:
- 38% for cancer that spreads to other parts of the body.
- 64% for cancer that spreads to nearby lymph nodes.
- 83% for localized cancer that has not spread to other parts of the body.
According to the National Cancer Institute, 60% of individuals suffering from oral cancer will live for five years or more. If early diagnosis is done, there can be higher chances of survival after treatment. The five-year survival rate in people with stage one and two oral cancers is usually 70% to 90%. It is, therefore, essential to make early diagnosis and treatment.
Treatment Of Oral Cancer
There are various ways of treating oral cancer, but the specific treatment depends on the type, location, and stage at which cancer is diagnosed. The common ways of treating oral cancer include:
Keeping Your Mouth Healthy
The crucial part of cancer treatment is keeping your mouth healthy at the time of treatment. You should ensure that you keep your teeth and gums clean. It is also advisable that you keep your mouth moist.
Nutrition
Nutrition plays a vital role in oral cancer treatment. Most treatments make it painful or difficult to eat or swallow, and weight loss and poor appetite are common. You should consult your doctor regarding your diet. Getting guidance from a nutritionist can assist you in planning a food menu that is gentle on your mouth and throat. The diet you take should be rich in minerals, vitamins, and calories the body requires to heal.
Targeted Therapy
Target therapy is also a form of treatment that can be effective during early and advanced stages of cancer. The drugs used in this treatment interfere with the growth of cancer cells by binding to specific proteins on them.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy involves drugs that kill cancer cells. The drugs are administered through an intravenous line or orally. Most patients receive chemotherapy treatments on hospitalization, while others on an outpatient basis.
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy treatment involves directing radiation beams at the tumor once or twice a day. It is done five times a week for two or eight weeks. A combination of radiation therapy and chemotherapy is applied in advanced stages of oral cancer.
Surgery
Surgery is used for the early stages of oral cancer, and it aims at removing the tumor and cancerous lymph nodes. Through surgery, other tissue around the neck and mouth can also be removed.
Healing After Oral Cancer Treatment
The healing process varies for each type of treatment. Postsurgery signs can include swelling and pain. However, extraction of small tumors does not have long-term problems. On the other hand, the extraction of larger tumors can affect your ability to talk, chew, and swallow. You can also be required to undergo reconstructive surgery to rebuild the tissues and bones in your face removed during surgery.
Radiation therapy can affect your body negatively. You can experience the following symptoms after radiation therapy:
- Thyroid changes.
- Severe weight loss.
- Changes in your skin, including burning and dryness.
- A change in your smelling and tasting ability.
- Fatigue.
- Difficulty in wearing dentures.
- Jaw pain and stiffness.
- Mouth and skin infections.
- Bleeding or sore gums.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Tooth decay.
- Dry mouth and loss of salivary gland function.
- A sore throat or mouth.
Chemotherapy drugs can be toxic to faster-growing noncancerous cells. The side effects you can experience include:
- Numbness in the feet and hands.
- Sores in the mouth and lip.
- Diarrhea.
- Vomiting.
- Nausea.
- Poor appetite.
- Weakness.
- Severe anaemia.
- Bleeding in the mouth.
- Painful gums and mouth.
- Hair loss.
The side effects of target therapies are minimal. The side effects you can experience include:
- Skin rashes.
- An allergic reaction.
- Diarrhea.
- Vomiting.
- Headache, and
- Fever.
These treatments have side effects, but they are crucial in preventing the spread of oral cancer. You can discuss with your doctor the side effects and help you weigh the merits and demerits of your treatment options.
Reconstruction and Rehabilitation After Oral Cancer Treatment
You can be required to undergo reconstructive surgery if you are diagnosed with advanced oral cancer. Some rehabilitation can also be necessary to help you eat and speak during recovery. Reconstruction can involve grafts and dental implants to repair the missing tissues and bones in the face and mouth. Missing teeth or tissue can be replaced by artificial palates.
Rehabilitation can also be crucial if you are diagnosed with advanced oral cancer. You can require speech therapy every time you get out of surgery until you reach the maximum level of improvement.
Outlook For Oral Cancer
The outlook for oral cancers can depend on the type and stage of cancer during diagnosis, as well as the patient’s age, health, response, and tolerance to treatment. Early diagnosis is important because stage one and two oral cancer treatment can be less involving. These two stages also have a higher chance of successful treatment.
Your doctor will want you to go for regular checkups after treatment to ensure that you are healing. The checkups can include CT scans, X-rays, blood tests, and physical examinations. If you discover anything unusual, follow up with your oncologist or dentist.
Preventing Oral Cancer
Oral cancer can be prevented in the following ways:
Maintain Proper Oral Hygiene
Maintaining oral health is one of the most effective ways to prevent oral cancer. Brush and floss your teeth at least twice daily. Visit your dentist every six months for routine dental checkups and professional teeth cleaning. Contact your dentist immediately if you notice anything unusual in your mouth.
Reduce Exposure To Ultraviolet Light
Cancer that develops on the lips is also a form of oral cancer. You can avoid oral cancer by limiting exposure to damaging sun ultraviolet rays. It is recommended that you wear lip balm with a sun protection factor.
Reduce Alcohol Consumption
You can suffer oral cancer if you consume a lot of alcohol for a long time. A combination of heavy drinking and smoking increases the risk even more. You should drink moderately. Men are allowed no more than two daily drinks. Women are not supposed to take more than one drink per day.
Avoid The Use Of Tobacco
Most neck and head cancers are associated with chewing tobacco and smoking cigarettes. You should quit chewing tobacco and smoking to avoid oral cancer.
Screening For Oral Cancer
Having dental checkups every six to 12 months is necessary. The dentist can examine your gums, teeth, and soft tissue for possible oral cancer.
Find a Reputable Dentist Near Me
Good oral hygiene is vital in ensuring good oral health and maintaining proper overall body health. Neglecting your oral hygiene can have far-reaching impacts, including increasing your risk of developing oral cancer. Whenever you visit your dentist, the dentist examines your mouth and can identify oral health symptoms early. If you need a dentist you can rely on for all your oral health needs, contact the Lakewood Dentist. We provide comprehensive dental services for the whole family, including children. Contact us at 562-423-1441 to speak to one of our dentists.